Towards a taxonomy of musical inspiration

McGregor, Richard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6685-2589 (2012) Towards a taxonomy of musical inspiration. Духовність особистості: методологія, теорія і практика (Personality Spirituality: Methodology, Theory and Practice), 1 . pp. 85-119.

Preview	PDF - Published Version Available under License CC BY-NC Download (819kB) | Preview
Preview	PDF - Draft Version Available under License CC BY-NC Download (35kB) | Preview

Abstract

This article summarises the rather sparse literature on inspiration as an part of the composition process and suggests that part of the problem is that there is a lack of a specific vocabulary and a suitable taxonomy for exploring aspects of the nature and working of inspiration in music. In order to help develop a means of achieving a meaningful discourse in this somewhat neglected area of the musical creative process the article proposes a taxonomy and vocabulary building upon the three stages of musical composition found in the work of Theodor Adorno: Einfall,; Die Arbeit ; Werden. Einfall is expanded into a classification Einfall – ‘Validation’, and through examination of the opening motif of Rihm’s 4th string quartet in various sketch forms a network of sub-categories is established – Validation through Content, through Context, and through Detail. Similarly Die Arbeit is expanded into Die Arbeit – ‘Conceptualisation’ with sub categories of ‘Essence’ and ‘Purposefulness’. Finally Werden is expanded into Werden - ‘Mindfulness’ and the article closes by exploring the idea that these three elements appear to be cyclic through the composition process.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Духовність особистості: методологія, теорія і практика (Personality Spirituality: Methodology, Theory and Practice)
Publisher:	Східноукраїнський національний університет імені Володимира Даля (National Library of Ukraine)
Departments:	Academic Departments > Institute of Arts (IOA) > Performing Arts
Depositing User:	Insight Administrator
Date Deposited:	06 May 2010 11:55
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 10:31
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/144

Downloads