Resonance: Musical Heritage of La Francophonie Previous   Next


PERFORMANCE

Music and Theatricality




Y ou would not go see Macbeth to learn about the history of Scotland. You go there to learn about what a man feels when he has won a kingdom but lost his soul.

— Northrop Frye


     

O ne thing sports and music have in common is the creation of a "playing space", where time and movement are combined into an art comparable to theatre, when actors and spectators participate in the unfolding of a drama. Whether in the concert hall or the stands, a whole society presents its unity or its contrasts to itself.

Photo: Y. Moreau

In traditional musical activities, performers play subtly with the acoustic space, the projection of the voices and the expressive power of the music. The gestures and movements of the musicians, and the participation of the spectators cannot be dissociated from a musical performance. Observing the gestures that bring music to life becomes as important as listening to the sounds that are produced.

On the sports scene, music plays an important role in the accompaniment of certain performances by dramatizing them. In synchronized swimming, figure skating and gymnastics, it accentuates and furthers the theatrical aesthetics of the sport. In team sports, such as hockey, where it is heard at key moments of the match, it simply provides commentary. However, it becomes a means of expression for the fans as they show their discontent or approval.

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