Workshop: Music in/and the History of Experience

The ERC Project GOING VIRAL: Music and Emotions during Pandemics (1679–1919) will organize a workshop on Music in/and the History of Experience.

In collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Olsen and Dr. Rob Boddice from the Research Council of Finland’s HEX Centre of Excellence in History of Experience, Tampere University, this workshop will discuss the most recent methodological and conceptual developments in the History of Experience and examine the contributions of music studies to this interdisciplinary field.

The History of Experience investigates the role of experience in shaping historical processes, emphasizing its constant interaction with social structures and institutions. Rather than treating experience as an isolated aspect of history, this approach examines its embeddedness in cultural contexts and its significance for understanding change over time. Scholars in this field continuously refine their methods, integrating new sources to uncover the complexities of historical experience. Music and musical experience have not yet played a significant role in these sources.

The workshop will include both Reading Group and Show & Tell sessions to engage in an exchange between historical theory and musicological research. On April 28, the focus will be on the GOING VIRAL case studies, while on April 29, we invite students, PhD candidates, and colleagues from all academic levels to contribute their own case studies and/or sources for discussion. Participation is possible on both days or on the second day only. The exact program will depend on the number of participants.