Body, Sound and Space in Music and Beyond: Multimodal Explorations

Abstract

Human interaction with music is based on the capacity to synchronise. In this chapter, we look at the principles behind this capacity and we consider its empowering effect. Synchronisation is central to many new developments in music research that gives body and space a prominent place. The human capacity to synchroniseA regular rhythm in music is a strong driver for establishing a synchronised human rhythm. Typically, a human rhythm tends to go along with the musical rhythm in such a way that a salient feature of the human rhythm matches the timing of a salient feature of the musical rhythm. For example, when we tap our finger on a desk, we can match it with the timing of a metronome tick and, when we walk, we can match the cadence of our footfall with the timing of the beat of the music. Salient moments of the rhythm (tap, footfall, beat) are markers for synchronisation. The performer uses them to establish a synchronised action, while the scientist employs them in order to study this particular type of action.But what are the underlying mechanisms behind music-to-movement synchronisation? And which effects does it generate? The goal of this chapter is to introduce and offer different views on the study of these underlying mechanisms, and to show how being locked to the beat of the music can pave the way for an overall empowerment effect, that is, the feeling that music affords energy and contributes to an increase in autonomy and self-determination. In this chapter, we present some recent theoretical and empirical work that focuses on movement rhythm such as walking, running, cycling and dancing. First, we introduce a theoretical umbrella perspective on synchronisation and embodied interaction with music. Then, we focus on some concrete studies that tell us something about the mechanisms of resonance, entrainment and emulation. Finally, we shed some light on possible empowering effects of music.

Collective music listening: Movement energy is enhanced by groove and visual social cues

“…Energy. The intensity or energy of physical movement to music has been measured in terms of movement speed (Leow et al, 2014), vigour (Atkinson et al, 2004;Swarbrick et al, 2019), or empowerment (Buhmann et al, 2016;Leman et al, 2017). For an oscillatory process, its amplitude, frequency, and other kinematic variables can describe its geometry, but they do not have direct physi-cal or physiological meaning; increasing the energy of an oscillating physical system can increase its amplitude, its frequency, or both, depending on constraints.…”

“…High-groove music has been shown to increase the desire, readiness, and propensity to move (Janata et al, 2012;Madison, 2006;Stupacher et al, 2013). The evidence as to whether it increases the actual amount and/or energy of movement remains inconclusive (Hove et al, 2020;Hurley et al, 2014;Leman et al, 2017;Leow et al, 2014;Witek et al, 2017). Movement energy, defined more broadly as vigour, has emerged as a window on the interaction between reward prediction and motor control (Shadmehr et al, 2019).…”