program music

noun

1. music intended to convey an impression of a definite series of images, scenes, or events.

Word History and Origins

Origin of program music¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

A handful of skaters who train with Arutyunyan’s team whizzed by as coaches scrutinized their arm placements, knelt to watch skate movement and replayed the opening notes of one skater’s program music.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s hard to pull off what might be called “program music” with no programs.

From Washington Post

Mr. Yu seemed to approach it as program music, finding a long arc in the work’s adagio bookends.

From New York Times

The interludes based on symphonic works Toscanini did conduct are mortifying to the extent they are hijacked to serve as program music.

From New York Times

A club in Prague named Karlovy Lazne has recently introduced a robot DJ that alternates with a human to program music for the dance floor throughout the night, as reported by Reuters.

From The Verge