How is absolute music different from program music?
A. Program music is written with the twelve-tone system, while absolute music is written without a system.
B. Program music tells a story, while absolute music has no descriptive purpose.
C. Program music is written in a major key, while absolute music is written in a minor key.
D. Program music is written for TV, while absolute music is written for concerts.
Answer (2)
Absolute music focuses purely on musical composition without narrative intent, while program music is specifically designed to tell a story or evoke an image. Examples like Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Eric Whitacre's music illustrate this distinction. The core difference is their respective purposes: descriptive versus autonomous musical expression. ;
Absolute music focuses on pure musical form without narrative intent, while program music is designed to tell a specific story or evoke imagery. Program music conveys meaning through its themes, whereas absolute music exists independently as a musical work. The correct option is B: Program music tells a story, while absolute music has no descriptive purpose.
;
