WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ab′solute mu′sic,
- Music and Danceinstrumental 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. Also called abstract music. Cf. program music.
- 1885–90
'absolute music' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):