PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF (MICRO)INTERVALS OF THE JUST INTONATION SYSTEM

Abstract

This study presents the results of research on the psychological aspects of exactly calculated just intonation intervals, which was performed in the form of a listening test. These micro-interval nuances (śruti) are attributed specific emotions or feelings in ancient Indian music-theoretical texts, just as in the European tradition, various extra-musical qualities have been attributed to different intervals or modes since the Antiquity. The purpose of the research was therefore to try to map the psychological aspects of the selected intervals and to verify whether the respondents agreed on them. In contrast to similar research testing tempered intervals, here we are dealing with precisely tuned concords of characteristic intervals of just intonation systems (5-limit and 7-limit just intonation), realized in the form of sustained drones. The results of this research show that listening to isolated sustained concords can induce a wide range of responses in the listener, which are identical or similar for a significant number of respondents. Moreover, in some cases, the reactions to a given interval/emotion combination coincide or resemble the characteristics given by Indian or European traditions. All the results of the research have been summarized in a table which can serve practical purposes.