This work investigates the fundamental question of how musical performance functions as a dynamic, interactive process between performers, listeners, and the sonic environment. The author, Clayton, utilizes a framework rooted in ethnomusicology and cognitive science to argue that music is not merely a static object to be consumed, but a social and communicative act. By examining the feedback loops inherent in live performance, the text posits that meaning is co-constructed in real-time through the physical and temporal engagement of all participants.

Experts in musicology frequently cite this text for its rigorous application of interactionist theory to performance studies. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for scholars and advanced students of music theory.