- Definition
Absolute music is music that doesn't tell a story or describe anything; it's just music meant to be enjoyed for its sounds and structure.
A Mozart symphony is absolute music because it is structured around musical ideas and forms, not an external story.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Absolute music is like a cool geometric pattern on a t-shirt that's just there to look interesting, not to tell a story or show a picture of something.
Ask your child: If this music isn't telling a story, what makes it interesting to you?
Common mix-up: Many people think all instrumental music tells a story, like a movie score. Absolute music focuses on the patterns and emotions created by the sounds themselves, without a specific narrative.
Examples
- A Bach fugue, which is built on the complex interplay of a single musical theme.
- Many jazz improvisations, where musicians explore melodies and harmonies without a set story.
- A string quartet named for its key, like 'String Quartet in C Major,' rather than a descriptive title.
absolute music is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
