Do improvisers intend? A small survey
Bjerstedt, Sven LU
(2024)
In Jazz Research Journal
17(1–2).
p.8-31
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Questions about the existence and temporality of intention in jazz improvisation are investigated based on phenomenological interviews with 48 expert jazz improvisers: Do improvisers intend that which they will play, and, if so, are their conception and execution of a musical idea coincident, or are they separated in time? The findings on improvisatory cognition are summarized and discussed by means of perspectives of phenomenology and 4E cognition. The collected first-hand perspectives indicate that in so far as the improviser is mentally aware of musical ideas, the conception and exe- cution of these ideas are separated in time. Further, while several statements point out that a multi-directional awareness (e.g., internal and external... (More)
- Questions about the existence and temporality of intention in jazz improvisation are investigated based on phenomenological interviews with 48 expert jazz improvisers: Do improvisers intend that which they will play, and, if so, are their conception and execution of a musical idea coincident, or are they separated in time? The findings on improvisatory cognition are summarized and discussed by means of perspectives of phenomenology and 4E cognition. The collected first-hand perspectives indicate that in so far as the improviser is mentally aware of musical ideas, the conception and exe- cution of these ideas are separated in time. Further, while several statements point out that a multi-directional awareness (e.g., internal and external hearing) is required by the improviser, this is perceived to be connected to, or even dependent on, a form of mind- lessness. This seemingly paradoxical requirement warrants a distinction between ‘mind- ful’ and ‘mindless’ (embodied) awareness. Based on the phenomenological interviews, it is suggested that improvisational activity is characterized by a continuous oscillation of agency between ‘mindful’ intentions and ‘mindless’ impulses. While the expert jazz improvisers in this study do not seem to consider ‘mindless coping’ to be a completely true description of mastery in their craft, ‘mindless coping’ still emerges as an impor- tant ideal to several of them. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/48f4d417-3018-46bc-a33b-e1748eb19da6
- author
- Bjerstedt, Sven
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-11-29
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- jazz improvisation, intention, improvisatory cognition, Phenomenology, 4E cognition
- in
- Jazz Research Journal
- volume
- 17
- issue
- 1–2
- pages
- 24 pages
- publisher
- Equinox Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85213796359
- ISSN
- 1753-8645
- DOI
- 10.1558/JAZZ.27808
- language
- Swedish
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 48f4d417-3018-46bc-a33b-e1748eb19da6
- date added to LUP
- 2024-11-29 19:07:24
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 14:39:47
@article{48f4d417-3018-46bc-a33b-e1748eb19da6,
abstract = {{Questions about the existence and temporality of intention in jazz improvisation are investigated based on phenomenological interviews with 48 expert jazz improvisers: Do improvisers intend that which they will play, and, if so, are their conception and execution of a musical idea coincident, or are they separated in time? The findings on improvisatory cognition are summarized and discussed by means of perspectives of phenomenology and 4E cognition. The collected first-hand perspectives indicate that in so far as the improviser is mentally aware of musical ideas, the conception and exe- cution of these ideas are separated in time. Further, while several statements point out that a multi-directional awareness (e.g., internal and external hearing) is required by the improviser, this is perceived to be connected to, or even dependent on, a form of mind- lessness. This seemingly paradoxical requirement warrants a distinction between ‘mind- ful’ and ‘mindless’ (embodied) awareness. Based on the phenomenological interviews, it is suggested that improvisational activity is characterized by a continuous oscillation of agency between ‘mindful’ intentions and ‘mindless’ impulses. While the expert jazz improvisers in this study do not seem to consider ‘mindless coping’ to be a completely true description of mastery in their craft, ‘mindless coping’ still emerges as an impor- tant ideal to several of them.}},
author = {{Bjerstedt, Sven}},
issn = {{1753-8645}},
keywords = {{jazz improvisation; intention; improvisatory cognition; Phenomenology; 4E cognition}},
language = {{swe}},
month = {{11}},
number = {{1–2}},
pages = {{8--31}},
publisher = {{Equinox Publishing}},
series = {{Jazz Research Journal}},
title = {{Do improvisers intend? A small survey}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/201047253/Bjerstedt_2024_Do_improvisers_intend_Jazz_Research_Journal.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1558/JAZZ.27808}},
volume = {{17}},
year = {{2024}},
}