Dynamic Levels in Classical and Romantic Keyboard Music: Effect of Musical Mode
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Date
2010-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Empirical Musicology Review
Abstract
An analysis of dynamic markings in 140 works representing three
musical periods (Classical, early Romantic, late Romantic) is reported. We tested the
hypothesis that minor-mode music from the Romantic period is more likely to exhibit
louder dynamic levels than minor-mode music from the Classical period. This
hypothesis was motivated by the theory that in the Romantic period, in addition to
conveying sadness, the minor mode was more likely to be used to convey affects that
are associated with higher dynamic levels, such as seriousness, passion or aggression.
Our analysis showed no absolute differences regarding the notated dynamic levels of
the minor-mode pieces. However, regardless of the musical mode, pieces from the
earlier period exhibited higher dynamic levels than pieces from the later periods. This
effect is attributable to a decrease in dynamics for major-mode pieces in later musical
periods, while minor-mode pieces do not show a change in dynamics over time. Using
the mean dynamic level for each period as a reference, these observations are
consistent with the theory that Romantic music is more likely than Classical music to
employ the minor mode to represent or convey affects that are associated with higher
dynamic levels.
Description
Keywords
dynamics, minor mode, major mode, Classical music, Romantic music
Citation
Empirical Musicology Review, v5 n2 (April 2010), pp51-56