chance music

American  

noun

1. aleatory music.

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Etymology

Origin of chance music

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

For example, it had nothing to do with the chance music of John Cage or the meticulously plotted complications of Milton Babbitt and Elliott Carter, the American heroes of ’70s modernism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Well, John Cage thought that, and then you have the Cageian idea of chance music, which is cool, and Mozart, also cool.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 4, 2015

Lutoslawski was inspired to use aleatoric techniques after listening to scores by John Cage, a major proponent of chance music.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2011

In aleatoric, or chance, music, on the other hand, some elements of the score are more spontaneous.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2011

I saw carmagnoles in which men and women, seized by a wild impulse, whirled along the street in a frantic dance to any chance music, compelling every bystander to join. 

From Memoirs by Leland, Charles Godfrey