incidental music

American  

noun

1. music intended primarily to point up or accompany parts of the action of a play or to serve as transitional material between scenes.

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incidental music British  

noun

1. background music for a film, television programme, etc

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Etymology

Origin of incidental music

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

The show’s theme was a cocktail culture cover of “Crazy Train”; incidental music transitioning one scene to the next was intentionally reminiscent of 1950s sitcoms.

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2025

The evening opened with “The Consecration of the House,” an overture Beethoven wholly revised in 1822 from incidental music originally composed a decade earlier for August von Kotzebue’s play, “The Ruins of Athens.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 28, 2022

When pop stars weren't available, he went back to his first job - writing incidental music for films and TV shows.

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2021

Foliart’s club performances of TV music — think live versions of “Laverne & Shirley” and “Happy Days” incidental music — led to union jobs including “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2021

Of course, an enormous amount of incidental music has been composed for Hamlet.

From Shakespeare and Music by Wilson, Christopher