occasional music

Occasional music refers to compositions written for specific events, such as state occasions, royal marriages, or peace treaties. This type of music is often choral and created to order for ceremonies, though it's sometimes considered less valuable than sacred or secular works due to the potential for a single performance.1

In Southeast Asia, music is frequently tied to ceremonies related to religion, the state, community festivals, and family events. For example, in Java, Islamic feasts and animistic ceremonies are celebrated with shadow plays accompanied by music. In Bali, gamelan orchestras provide music for temple feasts and processions.2

Incidental music, on the other hand, is written to accompany dramatic performances in theatre, film, radio, or television, enhancing the action or mood. While much incidental music is not widely known, some pieces, like Beethoven's music for Egmont or Mendelssohn's for A Midsummer Night's Dream, have gained lasting recognition.3