“Spelar jag inte fiol?! – Vem är jag då?” Om stråkmusikers relation till sina instrument

Abstract

Grounded in a symbolic interactionist perspective on meaning-making, this study examines how musicians relate to their instruments, with a focus on the values and roles ascribed to the instrument and how these affect the musician. Through semi-structured interviews with eight bowed string instrumentalists studying at Swedish universities of music, the study analyses how the relationship with one’s own instrument is formed and developed over time, as well as how this relationship shapes the musicians’ sense of self. The results show that instruments are often attributed meanings that extend beyond their function as sound-producing tools. In the musicians’ accounts, the instrument emerges as an embodiment and expressive extension of the musician, an emotional and security-providing resource, and as an object through which the musician comes to understand themselves. At the same time, the material demonstrates that the relationship is dynamic and, as the instrument becomes increasingly associated with a future career, may also come to involve performance anxiety. A central finding is that the meanings expressed in the musicians’ narratives are largely connected to the specific instrument rather than the instrumental category. Through ongoing frequent physical interaction, an emotional bond develops that reinforces the perception of one's own instrument as irreplaceable. The study also highlights how the instrument's material properties and its expected lifespan influences the character of the relationship, and the musicians’ understanding of their own role within a broader social context. By foregrounding musicians’ lived experiences, the study contributes an empirical perspective that complements previous theoretical discussions of musicians’ relationships with their instruments. The findings indicate that the relationship to the instrument is situated, dynamic, and closely intertwined with the musician's identity and concept of self. This mutable and identity-bearing character underscores the need for further empirical research into how such relationships are formed and transformed across different contexts and stages of life.