Abstract
The ontological status of musical works is a controversial topic among those in the field. This paper aims to argue for a nominalist and non-reductive approach to musical works that differentiates musical works from the sound structures commonly equated with them. The difference between sound structures and musical works is heavily emphasized and I conclude that musical works have emergent attributes sound structures do not. These attributes being creatability, fine individuation, and the inclusion of performance means. After establishing this I begin to build an argument for a nonreductive approach to musical works by rejecting the extreme view held by compositional nihilists. Once I establish that musical works are entities in our ontology I argue against them being abstract. I end by defending the nominalist approach.
Recommended Citation
Pipko, Michael
(2023)
"What is Music? The Ontological Status of Musical Works,"
International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities: Vol. 9:
Iss.
2, Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7710/2155-4838.1172
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/ijurca/vol9/iss2/11
Article download data priot to October 2023
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