Musical material as stock of knowledge: Subject, action and interaction within processes of musical improvisation

Abstract

This contribution explores the potentiality of the subjectivity approach represented in the phenomenological theory of Alfred Schutz to explain processes of musical improvisation from a sociological perspective. This constitute a challenge to Schutz’ theory, since his idea of typified projects of action can explain improvisatory action and interaction only partially. However, this same theory opens another – still less explored – path to explain phenomena of improvisation with the notion of subjective and social stock of knowledge. The principal contribution of this article is to connect the notion of stock of knowledge with that of musical material, and with it, to link improvisatory action and interaction.