Incidental music facts for kids

Incidental music is special music written for a play. Unlike opera, which has music almost all the time, incidental music is used only at certain moments. It might play between scenes or during important parts of the story. Sometimes, actors even sing songs with this music. It's called "incidental" because it helps the play but isn't the main focus.

History of Incidental Music

Incidental music has a long history. It was used even in Ancient Greece. It became popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. This was especially true in the plays of Shakespeare. His characters often sang songs.

During Shakespeare's time, incidental music was used more in comedies. Comedies were funnier plays. Tragedies were about serious people like kings and queens. These characters were seen as too important to sing. People thought music fit better with comedies. Songs were often sung by actors playing shepherds, nymphs, or clowns.

Music in Serious Plays

Later on, music was used for all kinds of serious plays. Sometimes, large orchestras played the music. Many famous composers wrote music for plays.

A great example is the music for Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Felix Mendelssohn composed this in 1842. Other composers worked with famous writers. These included Goethe and Schiller.

Beethoven wrote music for Goethe’s play Egmont. This music tells part of the story. The overture (music before the play starts) shows the harshness of the Spanish rule in the Netherlands. This is what the play is about.

Schubert’s famous Rosamunde overture comes from a play. It was called Die Zauberharfe (The Magic Harp). Schumann’s music for Manfred was different. He wrote it just for inspiration, not to be played with the actual play.

Many other composers also wrote incidental music. These include Sibelius for Pelléas et Mélisande. Grieg wrote music for Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt.

Incidental Music in Concerts

Today, much of this music is heard in concerts. It is not usually part of the original play anymore. Most of these pieces have overtures. These overtures are often played separately. They are very common at the start of concerts.

Incidental Music Today

Incidental music was not used as much in the 20th century. However, the plays of Bertolt Brecht often needed new music. Brecht's plays were sometimes about political ideas. He worked with composers like Weill and Eisler. They understood the message he wanted to share. Their music for Brecht’s plays sounds like cabaret music.

Nowadays, electronic music is often used in plays. This helps create different moods and sounds.

See also

In Spanish: Música incidental para niños