Formalism (music)
WordNet
noun
(1) The practice of scrupulous adherence to prescribed or external forms
(2) The doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented
(3) (philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded as physical entities) exhibit a form that has useful applications
WiktionaryText
Noun
- One of several alternative computational paradigms for a given theory.
- An approach to interpretation and/or evaluation focused on the (usually linguistic) structure of a literary work rather than on the contexts of its origin or reception.
- The tendency to elevate formal above expressive value in music, as in Serial music.