When analysing large-scale music-theatrical corpora, music theory frequently encounters a "selection dilemma". Despite the considerable sophistication of the tools available for the analysis of musical structure, the criteria for deciding which sections to select for further analysis tend to be unduly subjective. This paper proposes a methodology that employs Grounded Theory (GT)—a form of social science methodology (Birks & Mills 2023)—as a heuristic for music-theatrical analysis. In contradistinction to symphonic music, where formalist models frequently suffice, music theatre is considerably more complex because "musical incidents" are embedded within a social and narrative context. This domain is particularly well-suited to a GT approach, as it facilitates the coding of various non-musical indicators (e.g., plot, character, setting) to identify the points of analytical interest. When GT is considered a 'selection engine', the researcher is able to circumvent the common paradox of extensive breadth versus extensive depth in micro-analysis while ensuring scientific transparency. The paper will illustrate this hybrid analytical approach by means of the example of the 18th-century Viennese Singspiel. The concept of "nocturnalization" (Koslofsky 2011) is employed in the analysis of the repertoire (Dittersdorf, Müller, and Kauer), with particular emphasis on scenes that utilise nighttime settings to facilitate musical expression.

The methodology employed is a two-stage process:

1. In the selection stage (Grounded Theory), initial and intermediate coding phases are employed for the classification of nocturnal incidents. This approach captures the incidents as per the patterns resulting from the interaction of drama and music.
2. The analysis stage (Music Theory) involves the application of Neo-Riemannian and Ratzian analytical tools to musical phenomena within the categories from the first stage.

The results demonstrate that such an interdisciplinary approach enhances analytical efficiency in the domain of music theatre. The proposed model is adaptable to the varying intricacies of music theatre and converts the selection stage into a process that is systematic and repeatable in the context of research.

References:

- Birks, Melanie & Mills, Jane (2023). Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide. 3rd ed. London: SAGE.

- Koslofsky, Craig (2011). Evening's Empire: A History of the Night in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.