Absolute music, also known as "pure music" or "autonomous music," refers to compositions that are non-programmatic and exist solely for their own sake. They do not convey any explicit narrative or representational content and are purely focused on the musical elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture.
Cage's music, on the other hand, is often characterized by unconventional approaches, experimental techniques, and an emphasis on chance and indeterminacy. He challenged traditional notions of musical structure, notation, and performance, embracing elements of silence, noise, and the integration of sounds from everyday life.
Therefore, absolute music, with its focus on pure musical elements without external references, is not commonly associated with John Cage's musical style and philosophy.