Nikki Moran | Invisible artistry: Relationships, creativity, and musical accompaniment

Event details

Speaker: Dr Nikki Moran (University of Edinburgh) 

Date: Thursday 7 March 2024

Time: 5.15 - 6.45pm.  

Venue: Alison House, Atrium (G10)

Abstract

Musicians understand what it means to accompany someone, and what it means to be accompanied: “The sole differentiation between a solo and an accompaniment", explains Cornelius Cardew (1972), “is in the mode of playing.” In this view, accompaniment is a functional, ubiquitous aspect of musical performance that spans presentational, participatory, and everyday scenarios of music-making. Accompanists listen, follow and respond. Their contributions appear subordinate, but their material contribution is substantial: done right, accompaniment is an invisible feature of successful performance, constructing musical forms through which another voice can take prominence.  In the seminar, I will share my ideas about what makes musical accompaniment an exceptionally important topic right now.  Drawing on the research literature of pragmatics, counselling, and psychotherapy, I will talk about ways in which musical accompaniment expresses a relational quality of care, and discuss some implications of this functional view of music performance in relation to creative technology and education practices.

Biography

Nikki Moran's profile page