Abstract
This chapter produces distinctions in the form of a topography of musical absorption that give a conceptual grasp of the various kind of experiences described in the last chapter. The DSQ members differ in their perception of how to focus (or not focus) while playing, how to practice, and the significance of immersion and concentration to the overall effort. In other words, they have little consensus on even some of the most rudimentary aspects of music and musicianship. The following analysis, however, reveals certain general patterns in the musical mind. I represent these in the topography, which consists of the following categories: standard absorption, mind wandering not-being-there, frustrated playing, absorbed not-being-there, and ex-static absorption.
An earlier version of the topography of musical absorption is published in Høffding (2014).
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Notes
- 1.
One could also look at the correlation between the DSQ’s own reports and critics’ or audience members’ evaluations of certain concerts. But because I myself, as an amateur musician with intricate knowledge of the DSQ dynamics, find only little correlation between my and their judgments of their performance, I am skeptical of the value of such an approach.
- 2.
Surely, one can play in a “soulless” manner without being frustrated. But, without venturing into the question of what “soulfull” playing amounts to, it partly sets apart mediocre or even good ensembles from excellent ones.
- 3.
See for instance the Alban Berg Quartet’s interpretation on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2oCixqdyCY from min. 16:54.
- 4.
For more work on the distinction and possible simultaneous coexistence between seeing oneself from the “inside” and the “outside” see Sutton (2012) (for the sense of agency) and McCarroll (2018) (for memory).
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Høffding, S. (2018). A Topography of Musical Absorption. In: A Phenomenology of Musical Absorption. New Directions in Philosophy and Cognitive Science. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00659-4_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00659-4_4
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