Talk on Musical Interpretation — Visual Tools for Perceived Dynamics and Points of Gravity
Författare
Summary, in English
The Melody Phrasing Curve is a continuous line that is drawn by free hand into a special device indicating approximately the experienced dynamical fluctuations within the melody part of a composition. In the two phases of Study A, this phrasing curve was tested from the perspective of music professors listening to classical piano excerpts recorded on audio tape. The results indicate that the visual tool mentioned might be used as an instrument for illustrating the experienced changing dynamics of the melody part, primarily in piano music of a clear homophonic character.
In the consecutive Study B, the other visual tool, the system for notating metrical points of gravity, was introduced. This tool was used by four professional musicians, together with the Melody Phrasing Curve, as an aid when preparing performances of three classical piano excerpts, as well as for the purpose of visually illustrating musical aspects of their recorded performances. The study included in-depth-interviews revealing some of the participants’ musical ideas.
The results revealed that the participants respected the traditions of classical music, but they were also interested in further exploring the expressive potential of the music, in order to find new interpretative solutions. Moreover, the results indicate that the visual tools employed might be used in educational contexts as triggers for activating musicians’ self-reflection and for developing a bigger awareness when interpreting classical music. Aside from the participants’ diverging drawing styles, the results further support the functionality of the Melody Phrasing Curve as a visual tool for mirroring the experienced dynamical progression of the melody part. Finally, the phrasing curve may be used for the purpose of planning musical interpretations, as well as for illustrating a given performance.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2009
Språk
Engelska
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Studies in Music and Music Education
Volym
13
Fulltext
Dokumenttyp
Doktorsavhandling
Förlag
Malmö Academy of Music, Lund University
Ämne
- Music
Nyckelord
- communication of musical issues
- visual tools
- perceived dynamics
- melody phrasing
- points of gravity
- visual illustrations
- musical experiences
- Musical interpretation
Status
Published
Handledare
- Göran Folkestad
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1404-6539
- ISBN: 978-91-976053-5-9
Försvarsdatum
27 maj 2009
Försvarstid
10:00
Försvarsplats
Malmö Academy of Music
Opponent
- David Hargreaves (Professor)