Leonard B. Meyer

Leonard B. Meyer was an influential American musicologist and theorist known for his work on the aesthetics of music. He explored how music conveys meaning and emotion, arguing that listeners interpret music based on their expectations and experiences. Meyer emphasized the importance of context, suggesting that musical meaning arises from the contrast between what we anticipate and what we experience. His ideas encouraged a deeper understanding of how various elements in music—like melody, harmony, and rhythm—interact to create emotional effects, making significant contributions to the study of how we appreciate and respond to music.