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SUMMARY:Analyzing comparisons: Hans Keller’s theory of musical cognition
  - Nicky Swett (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20251111T170000Z
DTEND:20251111T180000Z
UID:TALK237058@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:125293
DESCRIPTION:*Abstract*\n\nIn the 1950s and 60s\, the critic and broadcaste
 r Hans Keller created a method of wordless music analysis. He would compos
 e analytical interludes that wove between the movements of a particular pi
 ece or separate numbers on a concert program\, which were designed to show
  how those diverse stretches of music hang together. In tandem with this p
 roject\, he developed what he described as a theory of musical cognition\,
  which posited a peculiar relationship between stylistic and formal backgr
 ound knowledge and the contrasting surfaces present in a given work or cor
 pus. \nHis theory remained incomplete on his death in 1985\, but by combin
 ing articles he did publish\, fragments from his archive\, and a close stu
 dy of his wordless music analyses\, it is possible to piece together his a
 ccount of how musical expectations relate to meaning and communication. In
  this presentation\, I outline that theory and compare it to the theory ad
 vanced by Leonard Meyer\, whose perspectives on music psychology have had 
 legacies in the fields of music theory\, music psychology\, and informatio
 n theory. I show how Keller’s position offers a passionately humanistic 
 tweak on the now-familiar idea that the predictions we make when listening
  are key to aesthetic and emotional meanings. I argue that his way of thin
 king about musical expectations is of particular value at a moment when ad
 vances in automated music analysis and composition have led to questions a
 bout which aspects of musical experience are or are not fundamentally comp
 utable.\n\n*Biography*\n\nCellist\, writer\, and music researcher Nicky Sw
 ett recently finished a PhD on the wordless music analyses of Hans Keller 
 in the Department of Music of the University of Cambridge\, where he held 
 a Gates Scholarship. His research interests include music cognition\, anal
 ysis\, transcription\, and music education. He has served as a program ann
 otator for many major concert organizations\, including the BBC\, the New 
 York Philharmonic\, the Chicago Symphony\, the Los Angeles Philharmonic\, 
 and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He was the writer and hos
 t of Music@Menlo’s AudioNotes from 2022-24\, and his new podcast\, Words
  on Wordlessness\, is available on Spotify and Apple Music. \n\n*Zoom link
 *\nhttps://zoom.us/j/99433440421?pwd=ZWxCQXFZclRtbjNXa0s2K1Q2REVPZz09 (Mee
 ting ID: 994 3344 0421\; Passcode: 714277)
LOCATION:CMS computer room\, Faculty of Music (11 West Road\, Cambridge\, 
 CB3 9DP)
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