Abstraction of Two Forms of Underlying Structure in a Tonal Melody

Abstract

This experiment, based on the work of Lerdahl and Jackendoff (1983), was designed to test the abstraction of two forms of underlying structures: "reduced structure" and "prolongational structure". A family of four melodies (al,bl,cl,dl) with the same underlying structure but with different rhythmic-melodic organisations was presented to subjects twice in the first step of the experiment. In the second step of the experiment, these melodies were then interspersed with four analogous melodies (a2,b2,c2,d2) differing in their underlying structure. Listeners had to identify melodies belonging to the first family. By presenting either a real family (al,bl,cl,dl) or a false family (al,b2,cl,d2), the subject's success in abstracting underlying structures could be observed. Results indicate that this abstraction does occur for the two forms of underlying structure studied, and that it is performed by non-musicians as well as musicians. This experiment thus reveals a highly elaborate processing of musical phrases thoroughly consistent with the Lerdahl and Jackendoff model.