Effect of metrical primes on perceived complexity of 2:3 and 3:4 polyrhythms
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Date
2021-12-16
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Publisher
Ohio State University. Libraries
Abstract
Previous empirical studies concerning the perception of polyrhythms have isolated the rhythms from a metrical context to observe the meter associated with each rhythm. These studies show the important effect pitch and tempo have on identifying meter (Handel & Oshinsky, 1981; Handel & Lawson, 1983). For example, listeners tend to tap the 3-pulse layer in a 2:3 polyrhythm except at fast tempos where the 2-pulse layer is preferred. (Handel & Oshinsky, 1981). This study extends prior research on polyrhythms by focusing on the metrical context in which they are presented, emulating realistic musical environments. The current methodology has participants rating the complexity of the pattern and how well the polyrhythm fits with the metrical prime. My hypothesis is that a metrical prime will overwhelm any previous preference for meter, and patterns placed in simple meters will be perceived as less complex than in compound meters. Results indicate listeners do have a preference of meter in both 2:3 and 3:4 polyrhythms. Listeners also rated the complexity of the stimuli lower in simple meters for 2:3, but this relationship is not clear in 3:4. Discussion considers the implication of the results on music pedagogy and performance of polyrhythms.
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Keywords
polyrhythm, meter, perception, complexity, performance strategies
Citation
Future Directions of Music Cognition (2021), pp. 220-224