Musical MeaningToward a Critical History

Abstract

This book argues that humanistic, not just technical, meaning is a basic force in music history and an indispensable factor in how, where, and when music is heard. The book draws on a broad range of music and theory to show that the problem of musical meaning is not just an intellectual puzzle, but a musical phenomenon in its own right. How have romantic narratives involving Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata affected how we hear this famous piece, and what do they reveal about its music? How does John Coltrane's African American identity affect the way we hear him perform a relatively “white” pop standard like My Favorite Things? Why does music requiring great virtuosity have different cultural meanings to music that is not particularly virtuosic? Focusing on the classical repertoire from Beethoven to Shostakovich and also discussing jazz, popular music, and film and television music, the book uncovers the historical importance of asking about meaning in the lived experience of musical works, styles, and performances. The book demonstrates that thinking about music can become a vital means of thinking about general questions of meaning, subjectivity, and value.

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