Practice-oriented musicology is grounded in the study of specific musical practices. Examples may include contemporary and historically informed performance practice, reception history, interpretation of musical works, studies of performance situations, understanding of body and identity, or roles and competences that may be relevant for performing different types of music.
Relevant research areas:
- performance studies and/or performance analysis
- improvisation, traditional music, composition, recomposition and/or interpretation
- institutionalisation and critical historiography
- body and/or technology in musical practice
- philosophy of music as practice
- epistemological and methodological issues in practice-based music research
Practice-oriented musicology at the NMH is characterised by the connection between the empirical data and musical practices. The researcher can draw knowledge from their own or others’ musical practice. Theory formulation or discussion of fundamental issues can emerge from the research.
Part of NMH’s PhD programme
Practice-oriented musicology is part of NMH’s PhD programme in music research. This is a scientific doctoral programme where the final documentation is a written dissertation that may be supplemented with documentation from musical practice.