Happy New Ear

Psychoanalytic listening and musical listening

Abstract

This article proposes an approach between psychoanalytic listening in the setting and musical listening. John Cage's Happy New Ear, a happy new listening, as free as possible from preconceived ideas and wishful expectations to capture the pure newness of the present. Listening as if for the first time. In Freud's terms, an attitude of floating attention. In Bion's terms, an attitude of rêverie, without memory, without desire, without prior understanding. A detachment from oneself to listen to what is new.