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Research subject

Musicology

Subject information

Contact

Sam de Boise

Research domains

  • Humanities-Social sciences

The function of musicology is to explore music and musical knowledge, as well as to analyse the types of music education and artistic creation that have existed and currently take place across different societies. Musicological research therefore links to humanistic and social scientific research on people's perceptions of the world. At Örebro University, an interdisciplinary approach to musicology is important to our research agenda. Our work connects to theories and empirical studies in a wide range of disciplines: for example sociology, media and communication studies, philosophy, (music) education, and ethnology.

Musicology at Örebro University deals with issues of music as a cultural and social phenomenon, focusing on the importance of music and music's function for people, both within and outside educational institutions. As outlined in our research profile, we study: music, experience and experiential practice; music and equality (focusing particularly on issues around gender, class, nationality and ethnicity); music and media; music education and training; and musical creation. Fundamental questions around how culture and society affect the terms and conditions of the relationship between music and humans are, therefore, vital to our research.

We study music as an individual, social and cultural phenomenon. The type of research carried out within musicology looks at people of all ages, whether professionals or amateurs, and is concerned with all forms of music and music performance, involving humans, in everyday life as well as in institutional contexts.

Research is conducted along two interrelated but distinct themes: ACCLAIM (Aesthetics, Culture and Media) and MOVE (Musical Expression and Experience). Within ACCLAIM, researchers study how culture, society, norms and values, influence musical practices, identification processes, and learning through music and music education. MOVE focuses on individuals' musical experience and artistic creativity. This research is concerned with art as a source of knowledge and experience, as well as how it is expressed in various contexts. The research projects linked to this theme study different forms of musical expression and artistic creation as activities, processes and meaningful phenomena carried out by humans.

An interdisciplinary musicology which looks specifically at how humans interact with music is important as it helps to inform and shape undergraduate education in various ways. This type of research also contributes to other areas of expertise such as: music and experience; music and social equality; music education and training; and artistic creation. Art can be a source of knowledge in and of itself. Yet scientific reflections on music and artistic expression, methods and functions in people's lives, can actually contribute to the revitalisation of artistic creation itself.

 

Active projects

Completed projects