Kairos and the Ethics in the Interactivity of Contemporary Improvisation.

• Grant number: 08/09633-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2009
• End date: May 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Music
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Henrique de Oliveira Iazzetta
• Grantee: Cesar Marino Villavicencio Grossmann
• Host Institution: Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/08632-8 - MOBILE: interactive music processes, AP.TEM

Abstract

This research focuses on the study of the dynamics in the interactivity of contemporary improvisation, also known as free improvisation, aiming towards revealing the characteristics that define its musical style. The idea is based in the hypothesis that the rhetorical principle of kairos represents an inherent factor in creating music without pre-established rules. Given the subjective responsibilities intrinsic in this creative interactive process, using the relative concept of time presented by kairos seems to be fundamental. In ancient Greece the concept of time was divided into chronos - the chronologic or sequential time - and kairos - the "right" or "opportune" moment.The objective of this investigation is to inquire how kairos may influence the decisions taken by improvisers. The strategy of this study is to introduce this discussion in an academic level so as to promote the development of this transcultural style of contemporary music, which is still not thoroughly investigated in Brazil. By giving the possibilities of better understanding this new platform for pluralistic and cooperative music interaction, this project proposes a field of research that integrates a balance between theory and practice.