The study of musical performance and its social character

Abstract

This article offers alternatives to the study of musical performance.
From the observation made by Nicholas Cook that every performance
has a social dimension, ethnography is presented as a methodology
for musical research. Then, it is showed some authors who understand
the performance as a social phenomenon and establish a link between
musical research and the social sciences, particularly anthropology.
In order to establish guidelines for the research, it is discussed the
concepts of “Musical Anthropology” (Anthony Seeger), “Anthropology of
Performance” (Richard Schechner and Victor Turner), and, the concept of
“music”, by Christopher Small.