absolute music

noun

1. instrumental music, as a concerto or string quartet, that draws no inspiration from or makes no reference to a text, program, visual image, or title and that exists solely in terms of its musical form, structure, and elements.

absolute music

noun

1. music that is not designed to depict or evoke any scene or event Compare programme music

Word History and Origins

Origin of absolute music¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The good wife breathed deeply, and went on with her work, sending out absolute music from her needles.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore, discarding critical crutches, it is best to hear the composition primarily as absolute music.

From Project Gutenberg

In other words—not Wagner's—dance approaches speech from one side just as absolute music does from the other.

From Project Gutenberg

For that they praised him, as if it were a sine qua non of absolute music that it should be in the sonata form.

From Project Gutenberg

The tendency of composers of absolute music at present is to make less and less use of the strict classic forms.

From Project Gutenberg