The social in musical performance
Jane W. Davidson · 1997
Abstract For all present at a live performance of a repertoire piece from the Western art music canon, the communication and reception of the musical score is the central concern, but the composition, performance, and perception of the work are dependent on a number of complex social factors. There are sociocultural rules which dictate and give value to the composition and its performance (e.g. the use of particular scale systems; a model aesthetic; the size of an ensemble; and specifically defined inter-performer, inter-audience, and performer-audience behaviours). In addition, there are moment by moment issues of coordination, cooperation, and feedback to and from co performers and audience which occur during the performance. That is, there are overriding sociocultural factors which shape the processes and behaviours brought to the performance context, alongside more immediate factors related to direct human interaction.