Project Details
Projekt
Conformity and Innovation in the repertoire of German symphony orchestras, 1949-2024
Subject Area
Empirical Social Research
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 546595583
The project examines the development of the musical repertoire of the organizational field of German symphony orchestras between 1949 and 2024. It aims at a detailed historical-sociological mapping and analysis of the orchestras’ repertoire development, with special focus on the career paths of conductors and music directors. The analysis is based on three normed data sets which can be linked together and will be provided via an open access website. The first data set (individual level) contains the career data of all conductors and music directors. The second data set (organizational level) contains the symphonic repertoire of all orchestras in standardized form as well as relevant personnel and financial variables. The third data set (institutional context) contains relevant contextual information about the orchestras, in particular on competition with other orchestras in geographical proximity and the economic situation of the regions in which the respective orchestra is located. The project will offer systematic answers to questions how the repertoire of German symphony orchestras has developed, and which orchestras to what extent have introduced new works and innovations into the field’s repertoire. Answers are also provided how the individual career characteristics of the orchestras’ leadership in conjunction with organizational variables and context factors have influenced the development of the repertoire. From a theoretical point of view, the project draws on concepts of “middle status conformity theory”, “neoinstitutional theory” as well as “population ecology theory”. In this framework, we will probe several hypotheses. These include that orchestras and conductors with middle status orientate their concert programs more towards other orchestras and thus act more conformingly than actors with high (or low) status. Furthermore, we assume that the number of musical innovations is accompanied with the institutionalization of new music. In addition, we assume that with increasing market dependence and increasing competitive pressure, programming comes under pressure towards conformity and mutual alignment. In methodological terms, the project takes up concepts and measures for conformity and innovation from the literature, using advanced methods of regression analysis, especially multi-level and panel data models (including social network measures) . Beyond that, the project is conceived as a model project, because the data sets are designed as open access research tools for future projects. After successful completion of the project, we plan to extend our investigation to other (European) countries.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
