Does Gestalt hearing exist?
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Date
2021-12-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University. Libraries
Abstract
Karpinski 2000 describes "Gestalt hearing," identifying chords instantly and holistically, as the ideal endpoint of training in harmonic dictation. Yet the subdominant chord (e.g.) is not a single object but a collection of objects that differ in timbre, texture, inversion, spacing, etc. Is it really possible to become so acquainted with this group that one perceives it as a Gestalt? If so, what experiences and abilities are necessary to develop Gestalt hearing? This article draws on relevant results from an observational, exploratory study of harmonic listening (N=73) to suggest preliminary answers to these questions and paths for future research in this area. Our results suggest that Gestalt hearing, if it exists, may not be available in college-level instruction.
Description
Keywords
harmonic dictation, pedagogy, Gestalt, bass
Citation
Future Directions of Music Cognition (2021), pp. 149-153