Investigating Expressive Timing and Dynamics in Recorded Cello Performances

Abstract

During the past decade, the articulation of expressive devices in musical performance has received serious scholarly attention from researchers, who have examined performance empirically and/or systematically. In particular, there have been a number of researchers (e.g. Todd; Clarke and Windsor; Windsor and Clarke) who have investigated how artificial systems can simulate human expressive performance. In this research note, the author presents a re-examination of the motor process between expressive timing and dynamics first analysed by Todd in 1992. The initial investigation is based on a performance analysis of timing and dynamics in 20 selected commercial recordings of J.S. Bach's Sarabande from the C major Cello Suite BWV1009. The author suggests an alternative empirical approach to studying the model of performance by investigating how expert cellists in recordings have practised the motor process between expressive timing and dynamics.

Quantitative Analysis of Phrasing Strategies in Expressive Performance: Computational Methods and Analysis of Performances of Unaccompanied Bach for Solo Violin

“…Dixon et al, (2002) presented an interface for visualizing expressive information over time as a continuous trajectory on a two-dimensional tempo-loudness space. Hong (2003) analysed passages from Bach's Cello Suite in C major BWV 1009 to test the validity of the aforementioned timing/dynamics relationship proposed by Todd (1992).…”

The Relationship between Pre‐Service Music Teachers’ Self‐efficacy Belief in Musical Instrument Performance and Personality Traits

“…Furthermore, they can be performed individually or as a group.When they are performed individually or as a group, their psychological, physiological and cognitive elements growmore diverse.Hence, a general approach to music performance might not be sufficient for music research directed toward professionals. The studies in the literature indicate that some researchers have noted this fact and performed studies of specific musical fields such as solo vocal performance (Howard, 2012), piano performance (Wapnick et al, 2009) and cello performance (Hong, 2003). Another remarkable point about the literature is that there are a large number of studies on music performance.…”

Rhythmic Density Affects Listeners' Emotional Response to Microtiming

“…Further, expressive timing (i.e., local tempo variations) is a phenomenon widely observed in the performance of Western art music. It has been associated with phrase structure, harmonic and melodic development, and it is understood to be a major source of expressiveness in Western art music (Clarke, 1982 ; Cook, 1987 ; Repp, 1992 , 1997 , 1998b ; Beran and Mazzola, 2000 ; Hong, 2003 ; Sundberg, 2003 ; Cheng and Chew, 2008 ; Senn et al, 2009 , 2012 ; Dodson, 2011 ; MacRitchie, 2011 ; Benadon and Zanette, 2015 ).…”