composercenteredness

Composercenteredness refers to an approach in music creation and analysis that prioritizes the composer's intentions, biographical context, and perceived aesthetic goals as the primary lens through which a musical work is understood and evaluated. This perspective suggests that the meaning and value of a composition are most accurately derived from the composer's own creative process and original artistic vision. Proponents of composercenteredness often engage in historical research to uncover information about the composer's life, influences, and stated aims. They may analyze the music to identify patterns, structures, and thematic material that are believed to reflect the composer's deliberate choices. The goal is to interpret the music as the composer intended it to be heard.

Conversely, other analytical frameworks might focus on the listener's experience, the music's formal properties independent of the composer, or the social and cultural contexts of its reception. Composercenteredness, therefore, stands in contrast to these alternative approaches, emphasizing the composer as the ultimate authority on the meaning of their work. This perspective can influence performance practices, aiming to recreate the sound world or stylistic nuances that the composer might have envisioned. Discussions around composercenteredness often touch upon questions of authorial intent and the potential for subjective interpretation in music.