Material Cultures of Music Notation: New Perspectives on Musical Inscription

The book Material Cultures of Music Notation explores how writing and reading music can be understood as concrete,material practices in a wider cultural context,using interdisciplinary approaches from musicology,media studies,performance studies,and more. It highlights the materiality of music notation through four key interrelated themes: knowledge, the body, social relations, and technology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Material Cultures of Music Notation is a groundbreaking collection of essays that delves into a fundamental question in the field of musicology: how can writing and reading music be understood as concrete, material practices within a broader cultural context? By drawing on interdisciplinary approaches from musicology, media studies, performance studies, and other fields, the chapters in this volume present a diverse range of new perspectives that emphasize the materiality of music notation. Spanning from digital scores to the transmission of manuscripts in the Middle Ages, the volume purposefully challenges disciplinary boundaries, historical periods, genres, and traditions by exploring notation's materiality through four interconnected themes: knowledge, the body, social relations, and technology. Together, the chapters encapsulate essential and groundbreaking work in a rapidly evolving area of scholarship.

The study of music notation goes beyond its purely musical aspects, as it encompasses the broader cultural and social contexts in which it is created and interpreted. By examining the materiality of music notation, scholars can gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which music shapes and reflects society, and how it contributes to the formation of cultural identities.

One of the key themes explored in the volume is the relationship between knowledge and music notation. Music notation is not just a means of transcribing musical sounds; it is also a system of symbols and signs that carry cultural and historical meanings. The chapters in this volume examine how knowledge is encoded and transmitted through music notation, and how it shapes the way in which musicians interpret and perform music.

Another theme is the body and music notation. The body is not just a physical entity; it is also a site of knowledge and expression. The chapters in this volume explore how the body is involved in the creation and interpretation of music notation, and how it contributes to the embodied experience of music.

Social relations are also central to the study of music notation. Music notation is often used to communicate and coordinate musical performances, and it plays a crucial role in the formation of musical communities and collaborations. The chapters in this volume examine how social relations are negotiated and constructed through music notation, and how they shape the ways in which music is performed and experienced.

Finally, technology is a significant factor in the study of music notation. The advent of digital technologies has transformed the way in which music is created, recorded, and transmitted. The chapters in this volume explore how technology is shaping the materiality of music notation, and how it is changing the ways in which musicians work and interact with music.

In conclusion, The Material Cultures of Music Notation is a groundbreaking collection of essays that offers a wealth of new perspectives on the materiality of music notation. By exploring the relationship between knowledge, the body, social relations, and technology, the volume provides a comprehensive understanding of how music notation shapes and reflects society, and how it contributes to the formation of cultural identities. This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers in musicology, cultural studies, and other fields who are interested in the ways in which music and culture intersect.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032260266