Introduction: Exploring Connections Between Music and Death

The impetus for producing this collection of essays examining the connections between Music and Death originated from an academic conference organised by the UK-based Progressive Connexions network. The conference took place in a hotel in Vienna, Austria, in December 2017. While the infamous Christmas Markets of Vienna were ceremoniously at their height all around us – with snow fluttering beautifully on a majestic city landscape – approximately 20 academics, graduate students and independent scholars from a number of different countries invested in this novel pairing of Music and Death while huddled in an intimate conference room, to present, discuss and contemplate the nuances of this unique subject matter. What emerged was a compelling cross-section of interdisciplinary approaches, theoretical lenses, methodologies and personal, non-fiction storytelling. We wanted the spirit of this very special gathering to have a life beyond formal presentations and the majority of the chapters in this collection are a result of this inclusive, and dare we say, spiritual, moving and emotional conference experience.