Music and Politics – Mosse Lectures

Ever since Platos Politeia and Aristotle’s concept of katharsis the discussion of aesthetic effective-ness and reception centers around the precarious, ultimately political relationship of music to the world. How does one speak politically about music, with music or within it? Music theory speaks of an „auditory system of communication“. In practice we have many efforts and experi-ments to change the habits of listening: beginning with Luigi Nono, disclosing new forms of sound to be effective politically in theatrical performances, up to Helmut Lachenmann’s idea of musique concrète instrumentale. Under hightech conditions of media storage and transmission new possibilities to act politically have been disclosed, in auditory pieces of musical experiments, innovative space-sound-samples and environmental installations, which aim at expanding musical experience, and challenge the „musical apparatus“ of institutions. Borders crossings of the arts and cultures are frequently and closely connected with social and political activities of both artists and their audiences. In a series of events, the Mosse-Lectures devoted to the „Public of Cultures and Sciences“ in a series of events thematize the political expressiveness of composition and concert music, „Neue Musik“ in particular, of theatrical presentation, and sound art in public spaces; special attention will be paid to interventions and cooperation with non-western cultures.