Aesthetic Emotions in Music

Theories and methods that investigate aesthetic emotions in music listening have been shaped by certain assumptions concerning the context and function in which such music appreciation takes place. This chapter summarises main understanding and debates in this area and reflects on what changes in approach are required for psychological research to be sensitive and more applicable to a variety of musical practices. We propose an embodied and dynamic approach to aesthetic emotions, built on the bodily, cognitive, and functional affordances of music. We argue that such an approach will help define a flexible framework for cross-cultural research, reducing reliance on implicit assumptions of (passive) aesthetic contemplation, and instead advancing the notions of situated goals and active listening. Aesthetic emotions may be distinguished from everyday emotions by functional context, close interaction with musical properties, and the functions and engagements afforded by music that listeners value and experience as meaningful.