scenemusikk

Scenemusikk, or incidental music, is music written to accompany a theatre production. It is designed to support mood and atmosphere, establish time and place, underscore dramatic action, and cue transitions, entrances, and exits. The music may include overtures between acts, entr’acte pieces, underscoring during dialogue or action, and sometimes songs or choruses. It is often performed by an orchestra or ensemble, either live with the production or as a recorded component.

Historically, scenemusikk developed alongside spoken drama and opera in Europe. It became a common feature of 19th-century theatre, helping to shape the pacing and emotional contour of a performance. Notable examples include Felix Mendelssohn’s incidental music for Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Edvard Grieg’s incidental music for Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt; the latter's melodies were later issued as the well-known Peer Gynt Suite, often heard in concert settings apart from the stage.

In contemporary theatre, scenemusikk can be written specifically for a production or adapted from existing works. Advances in sound design have expanded its use to include electronic textures, ambient cues, and precise playback that complements staging, lighting, and pacing. The practice remains distinct from filmmusikk, which is synchronized with moving images on screen, though both aim to heighten narrative impact through music.

Overall, scenemusikk serves as a dramaturgical tool that binds performance elements, guides audience perception, and enriches the emotional landscape of a play.