The social accomplishment of music in a symphony orchestra: A phenomenological analysis

The accomplishment of musical performance in a symphony orchestra is analyzed phenomenologically based on participant observation. Musicians rely on the we-relationship, gestural communication, common stock-of-knowledge, melody, and the conductor's hermeneutics to coordinate diverse perceptions and time structures. The self of the musician appears in codings of mistakes and in the orchestral hierarchy. Thelebensvelt of the rehearsal is directed towards its abandonment to the world-of-music.The author appreciates the suggestions of D.L. Wieder, Richard Owsley, Leo D. Papa and two anonymous reviewers forQualitative Sociology.