Seminar in Musicology: Structure, Thought and Feeling

This course explores efforts within music theory and music cognition to link musical structure (ostensibly, properties of sound) with thoughts and feelings sustained by listeners. We consider theories of musical expectation from Meyer forward, and phenomenological accounts starting with Lewin. We look at how people have deplored continuous measures to try to track the dynamic relationship between musical structure and listener response. We grapple with contemporary efforts to link musical structure to the autobiographical memories and fictional imaginings people experience while listening.