Hidden Public Music Theory

Abstract In many examples of public music theory, information is mediated through an authorial voice, not always a credentialed, academic music theorist to be sure, but someone who by virtue of their experience, performance ability, personality, or some combination of these communicates to their audience that they are in possession of musical knowledge and that the audience should be prepared to learn. Hidden public music theory is often orally transmitted and often lacks framing as music theory per se. Examples of hidden public music theory may encourage academic music theorists to reconsider what music theory is and who music theorists are.