ABSTRACT
Live events can be totally immersive, have emotional significance and offer a sense of belonging, identity and community. Comparable research investigating emotional responses to private music listening suggests that memories and associations of music with particular moments in time, or people, can hold lasting significance. A live music performance is, by its very nature, of the moment and transitory; while its multi-dimensional features collide to create a special experience, it is one which is often transient and ephemeral. The community may be temporary and short-lived, but it offers a sense of belonging which adds a complementary social dimension to what might otherwise be a personal experience. While Sara Cohen's focus is on personal journeys and memories, considered retrospectively and in relation to specific artefacts and venues. Melissa Dobson and John Sloboda's research offers fresh insight on the impact of involving the audience directly in the development of two new works.
