What is absolute music?

Absolute music refers to music that is created for its own sake, independent of any narrative, story, or emotional association. This type of music is often purely instrumental and allows listeners to appreciate the musical form, structure, and melody without being influenced by external programs or concepts.

The emphasis on the absence of a literary, dramatic, or pictorial program is what distinguishes absolute music from program music, which is designed to depict a specific story, scene, or emotion. In absolute music, the listener’s experience is focused on the sounds themselves rather than any associated meanings or interpretations.

This distinction is crucial in understanding the various purposes and styles in music composition and appreciation. In contexts where music serves to tell a story or to accompany a scene, it would lean toward programmatic elements rather than the purely abstract qualities of absolute music.