Musicking

Musicking presents a radical redefinition of music, framing it not as an object or work of art but as an activity and social ritual. Small introduces the verb "to musick" to encompass all participation in musical performance, from playing to listening to organizing to dancing. Through examination of a Western classical concert hall experience, Small dissects the relationships, gestures, and meanings created when humans come together to make and experience music. He analyzes the architecture, behaviors, and unspoken rules that shape these musical gatherings. The book traces how Western concert traditions emerged and what they reveal about Western social values and power structures across time. Small connects these musical practices to broader patterns in Western civilization's approach to art, nature, and human relationships. This work challenges conventional understanding of what music fundamentally is and offers a framework for examining how musical activities create and maintain social bonds. Small's perspective opens new ways to consider the role of music in human culture and society.

Readers value Small's redefinition of music as a verb and activity rather than just a static object or work. Many highlight how the book changes their perspective on what counts as musical participation - from concert hall listeners to stadium crowds to people singing in their cars. Specific praise focuses on Small's accessible writing style and use of concrete examples, particularly his detailed breakdown of a symphony concert. Teachers and students note its usefulness in music education contexts. Common criticisms include: - Redundant arguments that could be shorter - Too much focus on Western classical music despite claiming broader application - Academic language that occasionally obscures key points Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (176 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (31 ratings) "Changed how I think about teaching music completely" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets repetitive but the core idea is revolutionary" - Amazon reviewer "Should be required reading for musicians but needs editing" - LibraryThing review

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🎵 Christopher Small coined the term "musicking" to define music as an activity rather than an object - emphasizing that music is something people do, not just something they hear or create. 🎼 The book challenges traditional Western concert hall rituals, suggesting that even audience members are active participants in the musical experience through their presence and responses. 🎭 Small spent much of his career teaching in New Zealand, where his observations of Maori musical practices significantly influenced his theories about communal music-making. 🎹 The concept of "musicking" has become influential in music education, ethnomusicology, and performance studies, inspiring educators to focus more on the process of making music than on perfecting final products. 🌍 The book draws connections between musical performances and social relationships, arguing that every musical performance models ideal relationships within a specific cultural context.