Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and ListeningExtending the inquiry of his early groundbreaking books, Christopher Small strikes at the heart of traditional studies of Western music by asserting that music is not a thing, but rather an activity. In this new book, Small outlines a theory of what he terms "musicking," a verb that encompasses all musical activity from composing to performing to listening to a Walkman to singing in the shower. Using Gregory Bateson's philosophy of mind and a Geertzian thick description of a typical concert in a typical symphony hall, Small demonstrates how musicking forms a ritual through which all the participants explore and celebrate the relationships that constitute their social identity. This engaging and deftly written trip through the concert hall will have readers rethinking every aspect of their musical worlds. |
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A radical and nuanced reading of our contemporary "classical music culture," brilliantly argued and very expressively written. Reminiscent of Ken Wilber and Lewis Hyde in his ability to convey complex and keen insights in such a fashion that they seem to unfold effortlessly in the brain. I thought of so many people I wanted to share this book with (my brother, Tim, and Ben W. who introduced me to Ken Wilber). Great review of this by Robert Christgau from the Village Voice (2000): http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/small-00.php
Contents
Section 1 | 1 |
Section 2 | 19 |
Section 3 | 30 |
Section 4 | 39 |
Section 5 | 50 |
Section 6 | 64 |
Section 7 | 75 |
Section 8 | 87 |
Section 11 | 120 |
Section 12 | 130 |
Section 13 | 144 |
Section 14 | 158 |
Section 15 | 169 |
Section 16 | 183 |
Section 17 | 201 |
Section 18 | 207 |
Other editions - View all
Music of the Common Tongue: Survival and Celebration in African American Music Christopher Small No preview available - 1987 |
Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening, Part 1 Christopher Small No preview available - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
activity affirm articulate audience Bateson Beethoven celebrate century ceremony classical music complex composer composer's concert hall concert music conductor course create creatures culture dancing drama emotions equal temperament event existence experience explore fact feel formance gesture Gustav Mahler hear human relationships ideal relationships imagine individual instruments J. S. Bach kind language living Ludwig van Beethoven mance masculine meaning melody meta-narrative metaphor mind modern movement Mozart musi musical performance musicians musicologists myth narrative nature Ninth Symphony opera orchestra paralanguage pattern which connects perceive performers and listeners perhaps piano piece Pierre Boulez play players protagonist question rela relation repertory representation ritual score semiotics set of relationships sing social society sonata form song sound stories style Susan McClary symphony concert takes place Tchaikovsky tension theme thing tion tionships tonal harmony ture understand Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart words
Bibliographic information
| Title | Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening Music / culture |
| Author | Christopher Small |
| Publisher | Wesleyan University Press, 1998 |
| ISBN | 0819522570, 9780819522573 |
| Length | 230 pages |
| Subjects | › › Music / Instruction & Study / Appreciation |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |