incidental music

noun

: descriptive music played during a play to project a mood or to accompany stage action

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The behind-the-scenes crew remains intact, with Alex Timbers directing, Eddie Perfect providing an original score, Scott Brown and Anthony King writing the book, Connor Gallagher handling choreography, and King on music supervision, orchestrations, and incidental music. Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2021 His son Julian Chin composed incidental music. Myrna Petlicki, chicagotribune.com, 2 Dec. 2020 The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra, under the direction of Reinhardt’s longtime music director, Einar Nilson, performed the overture and incidental music Felix Mendelssohn composed for the play. Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2022 Music supervision and arrangements are by Sonny Paladino, with incidental music and dance music arrangements by Brian Usifer, vocal design by AnnMarie Milazzo and orchestrations by Bob Gaudio, Sonny Paladino and Brian Usifer. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 May 2022 Mary-Mitchell Campbell will serve as music supervisor, with Darryl Archibald as music director, Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter on orchestrations and Glen Kelly producing the dance and incidental music arrangements. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Apr. 2022 Ibsen's play premiered in 1876 in Norway, with incidental music by Grieg. Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2022 Grieg wrote them as incidental music for Ibsen’s epic about a gloomy globetrotter, for a major revival of the play in Norway (where both the playwright and the composer hailed from) in 1876. Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 4 Dec. 2021 The Much Ado About Nothing Suite (1920), adapted from incidental music Korngold wrote for the Shakespeare comedy, reveals his penchant for lyrical melodies and energetic rhythms. Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 13 Sep. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incidental music.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incidental music was in 1864

Dictionary Entries Near incidental music

Cite this Entry

“Incidental music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incidental%20music. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

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