Thesis submission ID 984 | created
| last updated
Rónán M Conroy, Contemporary neoclassical piano – the intimate language of too-late capitalism
Volumes, pp.: 1 (120pp and Appendix of interviews 14 pp) Wordcount: 20000
Supervisor(s): Prof. Adrian Scahill
Repository (online): https://drive.proton.me/urls/WFFZJEFR60#1GoNhEpqp6VP
Repository (hard copy): Maynooth University
General specialism: Musicology
Historical timeframe: 2000-Present
Key terms, concepts: Contemporary Neoclassical Music; Intimacy; Music Streaming; Qualitative methods; Data Mining; Too-late Capitalism
Key terms, persons: Brian Crosby; Daniel Luke; Lōwli; Úna Keane; Joep Beving; Nils Frahm;
Key terms, institutions: Spotify
Key terms, genres, instruments: Contemporary Neoclassical; Piano; Post-minimalism;
Abstract:
In this thesis, I examine the emergence of neoclassical piano music not just as a sound object but as a distributed commodity whose engagement with the consumer relies on technological and marketing advances to create parasocial relationships between individual consumers and the product. I map the emergence of the genre from the minimalism of the mid-century, the emergence of the technological delivery structure, and, finally, review the potential psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that facilitate this parasocial attachment process.
I illustrate all of this with interviews with four composer/performers, whose views and æsthetics greatly shaped my approach to this question.
Rónán M Conroy, Contemporary neoclassical piano – the intimate language of too-late capitalism
MA, Maynooth University, 2025
Volumes, pp.: 1 (120pp and Appendix of interviews 14 pp) Wordcount: 20000
Supervisor(s): Prof. Adrian Scahill
Repository (online): https://drive.proton.me/urls/WFFZJEFR60#1GoNhEpqp6VP
Repository (hard copy): Maynooth University
General specialism: Musicology
Historical timeframe: 2000-Present
Key terms, concepts: Contemporary Neoclassical Music; Intimacy; Music Streaming; Qualitative methods; Data Mining; Too-late Capitalism
Key terms, persons: Brian Crosby; Daniel Luke; Lōwli; Úna Keane; Joep Beving; Nils Frahm;
Key terms, institutions: Spotify
Key terms, genres, instruments: Contemporary Neoclassical; Piano; Post-minimalism;
Abstract:
In this thesis, I examine the emergence of neoclassical piano music not just as a sound object but as a distributed commodity whose engagement with the consumer relies on technological and marketing advances to create parasocial relationships between individual consumers and the product. I map the emergence of the genre from the minimalism of the mid-century, the emergence of the technological delivery structure, and, finally, review the potential psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that facilitate this parasocial attachment process.
I illustrate all of this with interviews with four composer/performers, whose views and æsthetics greatly shaped my approach to this question.
Thesis submission ID 984