Abstract
This paper argues for the importance of the application of pragmatics to music, and in particular to spontaneous composition. Indeed pragmatics, it is proposed, provides a more fruitful link between natural language and music than syntax or semantics. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the semantic problems associated with music can be solved by viewing meaning as arriving through shared experience and cooperation. Specifically, Gricean pragmatics is applied, by way of example, to spontaneous composition. It is demonstrated that Gricean pragmatics can provide a framework to improve understanding of not only choice and analysis of musical ideas within each genre, but also of the emotional reactions of the listeners. Finally, the ramifications of these principles are outlined for direct application in educational settings, and issues of representation are considered.
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Coventry, K.R., Blackwell, T. (1994). Pragmatics in Language and Music. In: Smith, M., Smaill, A., Wiggins, G.A. (eds) Music Education: An Artificial Intelligence Approach. Workshops in Computing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3571-5_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3571-5_8
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