Hochschule Luzern - Musik - Forschung und Entwicklung - Forschungsprojekte - Projekte Institut for Music Performance Studies

Projekte Hochschule Luzern

Interpretation and the perception of tension in musical pauses: an exploratory study

This study represents a first step in the exploration of the concept of musical tension and its role within the narrative of a musical performance. It investigates the influence of interpretation on the perception of tension during musical pauses in experienced listeners. We know that music tension is mainly shaped by music structure: but to what extent is it patterned by the interpreter’s actions? In the concert venue the performer’s body language might work as important carrier of musical tension, but what when the listening experience is deprived of this visual element, like when listening to an audio recording? Does it still make sense then of talking about “tension” as performer’s achievement? In this first exploratory study, these and similar questions will be addressed through a listening test that will involve music students enrolled in Bachelor and Master study programmes at the Hochschule Luzern – Musik. The construct of tension and its significance in musical discourses on interpretation will be explored within the context of musical pauses. Different methodological approaches (see methodology section below) will be tested, their applicability to music perception studies discussed. A style and an interpretation variables will be studied by playing to each participant 5 different interpretations of Haydn’s E flat major Sonata HOB XVI:49 and Liszt’s Dante Sonata (10 excerpts in total + 2 trial excerpts). This study is intended as pilot. Its main purpose is to provide preliminary data and methodological competences, tools and considerations to be used in an extended project on the construct of tension and narrative of performances.

Projektleiter/in
Elena Alessandri, Details

Projektmitarbeiter/innen
Lorenz Kilchenmann, Details
Jennifer MacRitchie

Beteiligte Organisationen
Institute for Music Performance Studies, www.hslu.ch/musik/m-forschung-entwicklung/m-musik-imps.htm

Beteiligte externe Organisationen
Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana

Projektstart
01.09.2011

Projektende
31.05.2012