U E A S c h o o l o f M u s i c
Research Seminar Series
17:30 THURSDAY 24th JANUARY
GERAINT WIGGINS (Goldsmiths)
*Towards Greater Objectivity in Music Theory: Information-dynamic Analysis of Minimalist Music*
The vast majority of music analysis is carried out subjectively by individual musicians in isolation, on the basis of small amounts of musical data (individual pieces) and extensive but implicit and unarticulated background experience. By contrast, scientific research tends to emphasise objectivity, the cooperative use of large amounts of data, enabling generalisation, and explicit use of explicit theoretical background.
We present an alternative approach to the study of music, based on the attempt to be more objective (where more objectivity is possible), through the use of computational models of music cognition. These models are verified experimentally, so there is evidence that their behaviour predicts well what human listeners do when listening.
We present the results of a preliminary study comparing our analysis with an independent analysis by an expert musicologist - the first time this has been done - and argues that the results are promising.
In applying more scientific method to musicology, it is important not to lose the holistic aspects of the object of study. We discuss the notion of ecological validity in these experiments and show how it is possible to lay out a coherent research programme which applies reductionist scientific methods to a psycho-social construct such as music without damaging the essential nature of that construct.
MUSIC CENTRE CONCERT ROOM. ENTRY FREE. ALL WELCOME.
richard.lewis@uea.ac.uk ext. 2453
FORTHCOMING
Thursday 31st January
17:30 Freya Jarman-Ivens (Liverpool)
"Are you...musical? Thinking queerly about musical histories"
Thursday 7th February
17:30 Sally Jane Norman (Newcastle)
title tbc.
Tuesday 19th February
17:30 Paul Stapleton (SARC, Belfast)
"Dialogic Improvisation: Six Attempts at Reciprocity"
