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Instrumental differences in characteristics of expressive musical performance

Walker, Timothy M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1092430692

Abstract Details

2004, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Performed music contains systematic deviations from the notated values of timing, dynamics, and articulation, which can communicate expressive content to a listener. The choice of musical instrument can be an important factor in shaping a performance; however, the differences in expressive variability across instruments have not been adequately studied, largely due to the practical difficulties of obtaining quantitative performance data from non-keyboard instruments. A methodology is proposed in which performances on a variety of instruments are recorded as digital audio and later transcribed into MIDI data for analysis. Details of the MIDI transcription process are provided, along with some algorithmic tools for comparing a performance file to a notated score. An empirical study was conducted of performances of two different pieces of music by performers of four different types of instruments (clarinet, guitar, piano, and trumpet). Each performer played each piece twice; once with normal expression and once with no intended expressive variability. Performances were analyzed with dependent measures of note error frequencies, timing deviations, articulation, and dynamics. Significant effects were obtained for all dependent measures. In addition, a perceptual study was conducted in which listeners were asked to identify the original performance instrument from the MIDI transcriptions, presented in a neutral timbre. Participants were not able to identify the instruments at a better-than-chance level, but there are indications that some of the instrument-specific features of the performances were perceptually salient. The results indicate that listeners may be sensitive to specific cues contained in expressive variability, but that they may lack the explicit instrumental knowledge necessary to categorize performances accurately. The studies are discussed together within the context of a process of musical communication between performers and listeners. The importance of instrumental effects and the technical considerations of representational formats for musical data are emphasized. These factors tend to interact with respect to the pragmatics of performing quantitative studies of performance and have numerous implications for future research opportunities.
Mari Jones (Advisor)
126 p.
music performance; physical instrument; MIDI transcription; musical communication

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Walker, T. M. (2004). Instrumental differences in characteristics of expressive musical performance [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1092430692

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Walker, Timothy. Instrumental differences in characteristics of expressive musical performance. 2004. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1092430692.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Walker, Timothy. "Instrumental differences in characteristics of expressive musical performance." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1092430692

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1092430692
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© 2004, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.