musique concrète

American  

[my-zeek kawn-kret] / mü zik kɔ̃ˈkrɛt /

noun

French.

1. tape-recorded musical and natural sounds, often electronically distorted, arranged in planned combinations, sequences, and rhythmic patterns to create an artistic work.

---

musique concrète British  

/ myzik kɔ̃krɛt /

noun

1. another term for concrete music

---

Etymology

Origin of musique concrète

Literally, “concrete music”

Example Sentences

McCartney, meanwhile, was on a mission to absorb the full spectrum of the 1960s avant-garde, from visual art and short films to free jazz and musique concrète.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2022

This was among the earliest examples of musique concrète, which uses recorded sounds as base material, manipulating them using electronic techniques.

From New York Times • Feb. 4, 2022

Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett chose FaceTime for their sketch, a bizarre bit of musique concrète with a surprise appearance from Fred Armisen:

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2020

The result is Kraftwerk meets musique concrète — an eclectic assemblage of electronic pop with clothing as its primary subject matter.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2019

Dittrich’s piece — and its use of chance, electronics and destruction — follows a long tradition that includes musique concrète and John Cage’s compositions for radios and gramophones.

From Washington Post • Jan. 26, 2017