The Way of Sound
Exploring Body-Mind Interactions and Their Impact on Well-Being March 19, 2026 DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-3521-6.ch008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the music of five contemporary Italian composers — Scelsi, Nono, Guaccero, Sciarrino, and Buccino — can serve as physical-psycho-spiritual self-transformation by opening performers' and listeners' perception to free configurations of sound purified of emotional and rational encrustations, often historical style elements, so that consciousness immerses itself in the sound flow and liberates itself in turn. |
Abstract
The belief that music, both as a performing practice and as listening, can function as a way of physical-psycho-spiritual self-transformation crosses eras and cultures. From this perspective the chapter discusses the work of five contemporary classical Italian composers: Giacinto Scelsi, Luigi Nono, Domenico Guaccero, Salvatore Sciarrino, and Dario Buccino. All five organize a music-making and a musical form that urge the performer on one side and the listener on the other, each in their own way also physically involved, to open the perception to free configurations of sound, purified from the emotional and rational encrustations –often historical style elements– which hinder the full experience of the here and now. Consciousness opens to the liberated sound, immerses itself in the sound flow and, conforming to it, thus liberates itself in turn. The different conception of each composer, inherent to both vocal and instrumental performance (as well as possibly to improvisation and theatre), is examined in its technical specificity.