Audience Experience and Contemporary Classical Music: Negotiating the Experimental and the Accessible in a High Art Subculture

This book responds to recent debates on cultural participation and the relevance of music composed today with the first large-scale audience experience study on contemporary classical music. It looks at how sociodemographic factors and the frames of social context and concert format shape aesthetic responses and experiences in the concert hall. It presents quantitative and qualitative audience data collected at twelve concerts in ten different European countries, analysing general trends alongside case studies. It also offers the first large-scale comparisons between the concert experiences and tastes of contemporary classical and classical music audiences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 03 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book responds to the ongoing discussions surrounding cultural participation and the significance of music composed today, with a groundbreaking large-scale audience experience study on contemporary classical music. By meticulously analyzing the experiences of existing audience members during live contemporary classical performances, the author aims to make data-driven contributions to future discussions on audience diversity and accessibility. The book adopts a multidimensional approach to audience experience, exploring how sociodemographic factors, the frames of social context, and concert format shape aesthetic responses and experiences within the concert hall.

The book presents a wealth of quantitative and qualitative audience data collected from twelve concerts across ten European countries, providing a comprehensive analysis of general trends alongside in-depth case studies. Furthermore, it offers the first extensive comparisons between the concert experiences and tastes of contemporary classical and classical music audiences, shedding valuable light on the unique dynamics and challenges of this genre.

Contemporary classical music is critically examined as a complex and multifaceted 'high art subculture' characterized by contradictions and conflicts regarding its cultural value. This book illuminates how audiences navigate the tensions between experimentalism and accessibility, which currently define this genre. The insights provided are of immense relevance to academics and scholars from audience research in the performing arts, musicology, as well as institutions, practitioners, and artists.

By undertaking this comprehensive study, the book contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of audiences in shaping the cultural landscape of contemporary classical music and offers valuable insights for practitioners and artists seeking to engage and connect with diverse audiences.

Weight: 603g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367696818