TOWARDS A TAXONOMY FOR IMMERSIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE

In the context of music performance, the term ‘immersive’ is largely undefined, posing challenges for creators seeking to develop works that incorporate immersive characteristics. By synthesizing various theories and identifying effective practices, this paper seeks to provide a taxonomy of immersive characteristics for the music performance medium. Thus, the taxonomy aims to inform potential practitioners, and how its application may lead to more positively perceived immersive performances. The following characteristics have been identified as key developmental components of immersivity in music performance: proximity, envelopment, sound and visual processing, as well as audience engagement. This list is not exhaustive, but it offers a set of key components that can be employed to produce distinctive and meaningful immersive experiences for audiences.