Thesiss

It has long been asserted that the mind’s predisposition to predict the future based on the past and present underpins the understanding and enjoyment of music. An oft-considered paradox in music psychology is that if a listener’s thwarted expectations cause an emotional respons…

This dissertation provides an introduction to the Turkish genre of instrumental improvisation known as taksim, a mostly untaught and unnotated element within a larger tradition that has both theory and literature. The exposition focusses on the lessons and improvised models of t…