The Perception of Music

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

The Perception of MusicThe Perception of MusicBy H. C. Longuet-Higgins, FRSBy H. C. Longuet-Higgins, FRS

“ “The problem considered in this lecture is The problem considered in this lecture is that of describing the conceptual structures by that of describing the conceptual structures by which we represent Western classical music, which we represent Western classical music, and the processes by which these structures and the processes by which these structures are created.”are created.”

Presentation by Joanne EmmanuelPresentation by Joanne Emmanuel

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

IntroductionIntroduction

““Given that a listener can distinguish time Given that a listener can distinguish time intervals differing by a few hundredths of a intervals differing by a few hundredths of a second, and can tell the difference second, and can tell the difference between two notes separated by a between two notes separated by a keyboard semitone, how does he use this keyboard semitone, how does he use this information in discerning the rhythmic and information in discerning the rhythmic and tonal structure of a piece of music?”tonal structure of a piece of music?”

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

DefinitionsDefinitions

PerformancePerformance

Piece of MusicPiece of Music

Rhythmic RelationshipsRhythmic Relationships

Competent PerformerCompetent Performer

ListenerListener

Conceptual StructureConceptual Structure

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

ProblemProblem

How to matchHow to match Composer’s IntentionsComposer’s Intentions Performer’s PerformancePerformer’s Performance Listener’s Conceptual UnderstandingListener’s Conceptual Understanding

Look atLook at RhythmRhythm TonalityTonality

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

RhythmRhythm

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Worm vs. TreeWorm vs. Tree

Worm’s Eye ViewWorm’s Eye View Look at sequence of notes from one note to Look at sequence of notes from one note to

the next.the next. Rhythm depends on the overall beat structure.Rhythm depends on the overall beat structure.

Binary TreeBinary Tree Look at the whole piece.Look at the whole piece.

Identify rhythm based on relations to the beat.Identify rhythm based on relations to the beat.

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Rules to RhythmRules to Rhythm

Keep track of the beat.Keep track of the beat.A metrical unit at a given level of the tree A metrical unit at a given level of the tree may be a note or a rest.may be a note or a rest. Metrical unit may be divided into n units Metrical unit may be divided into n units (n = 2, 3)(n = 2, 3)

Apply a Apply a tolerancetolerance to account for… to account for… Change in tempoChange in tempo Tied notes and syncopationTied notes and syncopation Ornamentation (trills)Ornamentation (trills)

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

TonalityTonality

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Why Octaves?Why Octaves?

The octave can be tuned to the The octave can be tuned to the satisfaction of any other musiciansatisfaction of any other musician Also possible with 5Also possible with 5thth and 3 and 3rdrd

Western music is created using these Western music is created using these three intervalsthree intervals Octave minus fifth = FourthOctave minus fifth = Fourth Fourth plus third = SixthFourth plus third = Sixth

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Tonal SpaceTonal Space

Tonal coordinates Tonal coordinates determine keyboard determine keyboard positionposition

Intervals in tonal Intervals in tonal music appear as music appear as vectors in tonal spacevectors in tonal space

Tonal space allows us Tonal space allows us to visualize the notion to visualize the notion of a key using of a key using harmonic space.harmonic space.

Z octaves

Y major 3rd

X 5th

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Harmonic SpaceHarmonic Space

Key defined as the neighborhood in harmonic Key defined as the neighborhood in harmonic space.space.

Y = 3Y = 3 D#D# A#A# E#E# B#B# F##F## C##C## G##G## D##D##

22 BB F#F# C#C# G#G# D#D# A#A# E#E# B#B#

11 GG DD AA EE BB F#F# C#C# G#G#

00 EbEb BbBb FF CC GG DD A A EE

-1-1 CbCb GbGb DbDb AbAb EbEb BbBb FF CC

-2-2 AbbAbb EbbEbb BbbBbb FbFb CbCb GbGb DbDb AbAb

X=X= -3-3 -2-2 -1-1 00 11 22 33 44

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

ExampleExample

Y = 3Y = 3 D#D# A#A# E#E# B#B# F##F## C##C## G##G## D##D##

22 BB F#F# C#C# G#G# D#D# A#A# E#E# B#B#

11 GG DD AA EE BB F#F# C#C# G#G#

00 EbEb BbBb FF CC GG DD A A EE

-1-1 CbCb GbGb DbDb AbAb EbEb BbBb FF CC

-2-2 AbbAbb EbbEbb BbbBbb FbFb CbCb GbGb DbDb AbAb

X=X= -3-3 -2-2 -1-1 00 11 22 33 44

Key is first note because second note is on the Key is first note because second note is on the right sideright side

D# does not belong to the original keyD# does not belong to the original key

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Example (cont.)Example (cont.)

Y = 3Y = 3 D#D# A#A# E#E# B#B# F##F## C##C## G##G## D##D##

22 BB F#F# C#C# G#G# D#D# A#A# E#E# B#B#

11 GG DD AA EE BB F#F# C#C# G#G#

00 EbEb BbBb FF CC GG DD A A EE

-1-1 CbCb GbGb DbDb AbAb EbEb BbBb FF CC

-2-2 AbbAbb EbbEbb BbbBbb FbFb CbCb GbGb DbDb AbAb

X=X= -3-3 -2-2 -1-1 00 11 22 33 44

Key is first note because second note is to the Key is first note because second note is to the right of the first noteright of the first note

All notes played are within the neighborhoodAll notes played are within the neighborhood

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

““Remoteness”Remoteness”

Figure 13Figure 13

Sharpness is the distance from a key in Sharpness is the distance from a key in intervals of fifthsintervals of fifths ……Eb-Bb-F-C-G-D-A-E-B-F#-C#...Eb-Bb-F-C-G-D-A-E-B-F#-C#...

Remoteness is the distance in sharpness Remoteness is the distance in sharpness from a keyfrom a key C-G has remoteness of 1C-G has remoteness of 1

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Diatonic/ ChromaticDiatonic/ Chromatic

Diatonic Diatonic Remoteness less than 6Remoteness less than 6

ChromaticChromatic Remoteness greater than 6Remoteness greater than 6

Remoteness of 6 ?Remoteness of 6 ?

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

RulesRules

For notes L, M, NFor notes L, M, N If LM and MN are both chromaticIf LM and MN are both chromatic

Change name of M to M’ to make LM’ and M’N Change name of M to M’ to make LM’ and M’N diatonicdiatonic

Same applies to when preceded by note KSame applies to when preceded by note K Rule 3 ? (p. 319)Rule 3 ? (p. 319)

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Tonality - SummaryTonality - Summary

Listener interprets each note as lying Listener interprets each note as lying within the extended key as suggested by within the extended key as suggested by the first two notes. the first two notes.

If this results in a key where the notes are If this results in a key where the notes are jumping from the key, select a new key jumping from the key, select a new key that reduces remoteness.that reduces remoteness.

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

The ProgramThe Program

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

ConstraintsConstraints

Can only be applied to unaccompanied Can only be applied to unaccompanied melodiesmelodies

Cannot be applied to polyphonic musicCannot be applied to polyphonic music

Chromatic intervals can only be applied to Chromatic intervals can only be applied to notes within the same phrasenotes within the same phrase

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

2 Parts to Program2 Parts to Program

Tonal AnalysisTonal Analysis Ignoring octaves, each note is assigned a Ignoring octaves, each note is assigned a

place in the current key. Key changed as place in the current key. Key changed as needed.needed.

Rhythmic AnalysisRhythmic Analysis Construction of rhythmic hierarchy is Construction of rhythmic hierarchy is

performed. Change in tempo is considered.performed. Change in tempo is considered.

Analysis is displayed in matrix formatAnalysis is displayed in matrix format

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

ResultsResults

Example 1Example 1 Program able to perceive the performance Program able to perceive the performance

Example 2Example 2 Although rhythm is correct, problems with Although rhythm is correct, problems with

phrasing affect note spellingphrasing affect note spelling

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

ClosingClosing

Program treats Rhythm and Tonal Program treats Rhythm and Tonal Analysis as independent processesAnalysis as independent processes

Unable to perceive atonal or arhythmic Unable to perceive atonal or arhythmic musicmusic

This theory is a very basic start to This theory is a very basic start to understanding the processes of music understanding the processes of music appreciation.appreciation.

January 22, 2004January 22, 2004 ISE 599 – Music Cognition and PerceptionISE 599 – Music Cognition and Perception

Questions?Questions?