Action and Gesture: A Classical Pianist’s Guide to Prescriptive Notation
A talk by Stephanie Chua in the Fine Arts Research Lecture Series in Music (FARLS)
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 23
Time: 12:30–1:20 pm
Location: Quance Theatre, Education Building Room 1003, 28 Campus Dr., Saskatoon
Free and open to the public
About this event
American composer and musicologist Charles Seeger coined the terms descriptive and prescriptive notation. Descriptive refers to the traditional notation of a musical score; prescriptive is any other way to convey musical action and gesture. Using Helmut Lachenmann’s solo piano work ‘Guero’, Stephanie Chua illustrates the process of studying and performing a prescriptive work.
Stephanie also makes a case that prescriptive notation is a true equalizer; a “performer” does not need to have musical training to “perform” a prescriptive score. Through her experience of working in community-engaged projects and educational workshops, Stephanie will present how prescriptive boundaries can represent a democratic way of making music.
FARLS is hosted by the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music. Learn more.
Upcoming Events
Dam-Breaking: Arms Trading and American Revolutions
Jan 12, 2026
This event will feature speaker Dr. Brian DeLay, history professor at UC Berkeley
From Reflection to Research: Navigating Voice, Agency and Assessment in Collaborative Learning Spaces
Jan 22, 2026
A talk and performance in the Fine Arts Research Lecture Series (FARLS) in Music by Dr. Laurel Forshaw (PhD)
Women Plus Water Conversation: Water + Mining
Jan 22, 2026
A conversation exploring the relationship between water and mining, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities for advancing sustainable and equitable practices