Abstract

Abstract is a genre of music that has its roots in the avant-garde, free jazz, and experimental music of the late 1950s and 1960s. It is characterized by a focus on sonic exploration and the use of unconventional sounds and structures. Common instruments used in abstract music include electronic keyboards, synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers. Abstract music often features a wide variety of sonic textures and sonic landscapes, often making use of improvisation and indeterminacy. This genre has been heavily influenced by the work of composers such as John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Steve Reich. Abstract music has also been explored in popular culture, particularly in the electronic music of artists such as Aphex Twin, Autechre, and Boards of Canada.