14 April 2005, Colloquium Muziekwetenschap, prof. dr Marc Leman (Universiteit Gent)

This talk is about the first chapter of a book which the author is currently finishing. The chapter introduces the problem of music signification and aims at analyzing the main themes of a new theory of music mediation. First, he introduces the distinction between direct involvement with music and description of this involvement. In both cases, it seems that subjective engagement with music is important. In a second section, the question is asked to what extent a subjectivist approach can contribute to a theory of music mediation. The position of subjectivism, however, is difficult to maintain because of its weak philosophical foundations in skepticism. Therefore, an alternative account, based on human action, is proposed. Finally, this alternative is considered in view of three foundations, namely linguistic descriptions, corporeal descriptions and the call for technology-mediated access to music.

Marc Leman is hoogleraar aan de afdeling Musicologie van de Vakgroep Kunst-, Muziek-, en Theaterwetenschappen van de Universiteit Gent (UGent). Hij is vakgroepvoorzitter en directeur van het onderzoeksinstituut IPEM. Hij heeft het statuut van onderzoeks-professor in de Systematische Musicologie, en zijn onderzoeksactiviteiten omvatten de methodologische en epistemologische grondslagen van de systematische muziekwetenshap.

For more information, see http://www.musicology.nl/