instrumental

Instrumental is a term with multiple related meanings, typically referring to music performed with instruments rather than sung. In a broader sense, it also means relating to or performed by instruments in general. The word comes from Latin instrumentalis, via Old French, and entered English in the late Middle Ages.

In music, instrumental indicates that a composition or part of a piece is without vocal parts. Instrumental works encompass a wide range of forms, including orchestral symphonies, concertos, and chamber music, as well as jazz improvisations and film or television scores. Instrumental music may stand alone or accompany other media, and it can exist as pure instrumental texture or as a vehicle for melodic lines carried by one or more instruments. In popular music, the term is also used for tracks that present lyrics as a melody without words, i.e., an instrumental version of a song.

Beyond music, instrumental is frequently used figuratively to describe something that plays a leading or essential role in achieving a result, as in being instrumental in a project’s success.

Historically, instrumental music became central to Western art music during the Baroque period and expanded through the Classical and Romantic eras with growing orchestations and repertoire. In the 20th and 21st centuries, instrumental approaches diversified widely with genres such as jazz, electronic music, and modern film scoring, reflecting ongoing exploration of timbre, texture, and arrangement.

In summary, instrumental denotes music for instruments, the absence of vocals in a piece, and, more broadly, a pivotal role in outcomes.