Music genres: absolute, programme and theatre music.

Absolute music makes sense without accompanying words, images, drama, dance or other kinds of extra-musical ideas.

• String quartet nº 3, op. 76. Franz Joseph Haydn.
• Sonata in C K545. W. A. Mozart.

Programme music is descriptive music, it interprets an object, landscape or emotional experience.

• The Moldau. Bedrich Smetana.
• Italian Symphony. Felix Mendelssohn.
• Scenes from childhood. Robert Schumann.
• The planets. Mars. Gustav Holst.
• The carnival of the animals. The aquarium. Camille Saint-Saëns.

Theatre music includes a variety of subgenres designed to form part of a drammatic performance (opera, cabaret, ballet, film or television program).

• The magic flute. Opera. W.A. Mozart. 
• The rite of spring. Ballet. Igor Stravinsky.
• Cats. Musical. A. Lloyd Weber.
• North by Northwest. Opening titles. Film music. Bernard Herrmann.