noun
program music
Instrumental music that tells a story or depicts a scene, idea, or literary theme. Often contrasted with 絶対音楽 (absolute music).
See also: 絶対音楽
ベルリオーズの「幻想交響曲」は標題音楽の代表例だ。
Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique is a prime example of program music.
絶対音楽 (absolute music) is instrumental music without an explicit narrative or descriptive program, in contrast to 標題音楽 which is explicitly tied to a story or image.
Compound of 標題 (title, program) and 音楽 (music). The term is a calque from Western music terminology.