Music and Knowledge: Towards a Systematic Approach

Andreas Dorschel

In the present attempt, I distinguish between (1) Composers’ knowledge; (2) Knowledge incorporated in compositions; (3) Performers’ knowledge; (4) Participants’ and audiences’ knowledge; (5) Material and institutionalized knowledge. Throughout these distinctions run three more general or abstract distinctions. The first of these is (a) a distinction between inherent and contextual knowledge. Then there is (b) a distinction between ‘imparted knowledge’ and ‘emerging knowledge’: What sort of knowledge goes into music, and what sort of knowledge emerges from it? Finally, there is the well-known, though sometimes disputed (c) distinction between theoretical and practical knowledge, or ‘knowing that’ vs. ‘knowing how’. The real challenge, finally, is posed by the question: How do the diverse forms or modes of knowledge interact?

Andreas Dorschel

Andreas Dorschel heads the research project 'The Epistemic Power of Music' (P 34449-G) and the Institute for Music Aesthetics at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.

The IDEA Lectures bring together internationally renowned voices taking up questions of musical production and reception from a wide variety of perspectives. Musicologists from all disciplines are involved as well as musicians, psychologists, cognitive scientists, sociologists, philosophers and ethnologists.

The talk will be held in English.

External guests are welcome. Please contact sek.musik@ae.mpg.de