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Surrounded by Sound. Experienced Orchestral Harpists’ Professional Knowledge and Learning

Lonnert, Lia LU (2015) In Studies in Music and Music Education 18.
Abstract
Orchestral playing is a central practice within Western European classical music. Previous research in the field of orchestral musicians’ learning and knowledge has mainly focused on students’ learning orchestral playing. Working conditions and work-related problems were also emphasized in previous studies. This thesis, however, focuses on professional orchestral musicians’ knowledge and learning. The method to investigate these issues was to let musicians verbally describe their professional experiences and orchestral practice. Interviews with a low degree of structure were conducted with four orchestral harpists from renowned orchestras. In the analysis and interpretation a hermeneutical approach was used. This approach also offered... (More)
Orchestral playing is a central practice within Western European classical music. Previous research in the field of orchestral musicians’ learning and knowledge has mainly focused on students’ learning orchestral playing. Working conditions and work-related problems were also emphasized in previous studies. This thesis, however, focuses on professional orchestral musicians’ knowledge and learning. The method to investigate these issues was to let musicians verbally describe their professional experiences and orchestral practice. Interviews with a low degree of structure were conducted with four orchestral harpists from renowned orchestras. In the analysis and interpretation a hermeneutical approach was used. This approach also offered guidelines for considering the researcher’s role and pre-understanding. The findings showed that skilled musicians developed their knowledge throughout their careers. Knowledge of orchestral playing was contextually based, and based on experience. All skills used by the musicians when playing in an orchestra had to be contextually adapted. A main finding was how musicians were able to create, by their knowledge, a space for musical freedom and personal interpretation when playing in the orchestra. There were also knowledge issues that always had to be maintained and others that constantly had to be developed within practice. In conclusion, there are major contradictions that are important elements of the profession of orchestral musicians. The musicians should have a personal musical expression as well as a highly developed ensemble skill. They should focus on the extreme detail and the totality of the performed musical piece at the same time. They have to be able to express themselves musically within a restricted framework. This framework, and the interspace between the frames, can be negotiated by knowledge, skills and the choices of the musician. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Cottrell, Stephen, City University London
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
harp, lifelong learning, music education, orchestral playing, practical knowledge, professional knowledge
in
Studies in Music and Music Education
volume
18
pages
248 pages
publisher
Lund University, Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts, Malmö Academy of Music, Department of Research in Music Education
defense location
Lilla Salen, Musikhögskolan i Malmö, Ystadvägen 25, Malmö
defense date
2015-02-20 10:00:00
ISSN
1404-6539
ISBN
978-91-982297-1-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0eb1713e-018d-4ca0-bc61-5c26bba18764 (old id 4939483)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:17:38
date last changed
2019-05-24 08:11:40
@phdthesis{0eb1713e-018d-4ca0-bc61-5c26bba18764,
  abstract     = {{Orchestral playing is a central practice within Western European classical music. Previous research in the field of orchestral musicians’ learning and knowledge has mainly focused on students’ learning orchestral playing. Working conditions and work-related problems were also emphasized in previous studies. This thesis, however, focuses on professional orchestral musicians’ knowledge and learning. The method to investigate these issues was to let musicians verbally describe their professional experiences and orchestral practice. Interviews with a low degree of structure were conducted with four orchestral harpists from renowned orchestras. In the analysis and interpretation a hermeneutical approach was used. This approach also offered guidelines for considering the researcher’s role and pre-understanding. The findings showed that skilled musicians developed their knowledge throughout their careers. Knowledge of orchestral playing was contextually based, and based on experience. All skills used by the musicians when playing in an orchestra had to be contextually adapted. A main finding was how musicians were able to create, by their knowledge, a space for musical freedom and personal interpretation when playing in the orchestra. There were also knowledge issues that always had to be maintained and others that constantly had to be developed within practice. In conclusion, there are major contradictions that are important elements of the profession of orchestral musicians. The musicians should have a personal musical expression as well as a highly developed ensemble skill. They should focus on the extreme detail and the totality of the performed musical piece at the same time. They have to be able to express themselves musically within a restricted framework. This framework, and the interspace between the frames, can be negotiated by knowledge, skills and the choices of the musician.}},
  author       = {{Lonnert, Lia}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-982297-1-4}},
  issn         = {{1404-6539}},
  keywords     = {{harp; lifelong learning; music education; orchestral playing; practical knowledge; professional knowledge}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University, Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts, Malmö Academy of Music, Department of Research in Music Education}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Studies in Music and Music Education}},
  title        = {{Surrounded by Sound. Experienced Orchestral Harpists’ Professional Knowledge and Learning}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3894066/4939506.pdf}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}