Ferguson's Dissonant Expressionism

Abstract

Ambiguities, inconsistencies, and lack of justification mar donald ferguson's argument in "music as metaphor" that tonal tensions and motions portray the nervous tensions and motor impulses of feelings. three hypotheses improving on ferguson's s/r model eliminate inconsistencies at the cost of some of his claims. problems remain concerning the legitimacy of any s/r model in this context and whether this kind of explanation of a belief in musical portrayal of emotions gives that belief warrant.