Absolute music is a type of abstract music that is not written with the intention of telling a story or painting a mental image for the listener. Its composers generally intend for each piece’s structure to stand alone without any additional associations. Absolute music’s melodies and harmonies aren’t usually tied to any specific emotional reactions or interpretations, so listeners are free to associate each piece with their own feelings, thoughts, and mental images. Instrumental scores without lyrics make up this genre of music, though instrumental music pieces are not always absolute expressions of the composer’s ideas.
One of the most common motivations for the creation of absolute music is to distinguish it from instrumental program music, which is linked to specific stories, moods, or images. Instrumental scores from films, plays, and operas make up some of the program music. Others are written to depict specific events, places, themes, or situations musically. Pastoral Symphony Ludwig van Beethoven and Prometheus Franz Liszt are two examples of program music.
The origins of absolute music are inextricably linked to those of abstract art. Both aren’t meant to represent anything specific. Some seasoned listeners of impressionist music claim that the technical arrangements of notes, rather than any unnecessary related feelings or ideas, can be truly appreciated. This point of view is commonly associated with formalist ideas about art and music, which first gained popularity in the nineteenth century. Formalism in music can be traced back to the writings of Eduard Hanslick, who defined quality music as music that can be appreciated solely for its sound structure.
Absolute music is often considered a better option for close musical analysis because it is not tied to any kind of story or visual frame of reference. Classical musicians frequently listen to recordings of this genre to gain a better understanding of the composers’ techniques and to research ways to improve their own performances. Some casual listeners enjoy this type of music because the complex arrangements of harmonies and melodies can be mentally stimulating. Frédéric Chopin’s Waltz in D flat, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Flutes, and Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 in B flat major are all examples of absolute music.