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Effect of Adding Interpretive Elements to a Musical Performance on the Rhythmic and Dynamic Variations

2000; University of Illinois Press; Issue: 147 Linguagem: Inglês

2162-7223

Christopher M. Johnson,

Music and Audio Processing

The principal purpose of this investigation was to investigate the effect that making a performance musical would have on the elements of dynamics and rubato. An analysis of 24 performances of Beethoven 's Symphony Number 5 in c minor, measures 1-122, was completed to determine what rhythmic and dynamic variations were used. Eight subjects, selected on the basis of musical expertise, performed the Beethoven excerpt on a computer program three times. The first time they were to directly replicate the markings on the score. The second time they were to interpret the piece such that they made it as musical as possible. The third time they were to exaggerate all of the interpretive elements added into the second performance in order to make the performance unmusical. Data were collected directly from digital recordings of performances, and computerized analysis methods were used to determine both the dynamic amplitude as well as the onsets of each beat to the nearest hundredth of a second. Results indicated that modifications to dynamic amplitude were rather small across the three conditions, while changes in timing were much more notable. Implications from these data may indicate that the musical score more clearly indicates appropriately musical dynamics, while the performer must insert timing variations without guidance from the score itself to achieve a more musical performance.