Focus of attention to melody or harmony and perception of music tension: An exploratory study

Abstract

This project represents an initial investigation into utilizing the two-dimensional Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) to track listener perceptions related to the possible relationships between focus of attention to musical elements and perceived musical tension. The two-dimensional CRDI software creates an environment in which the listener can track their perceptions on two planes simultaneously. Volunteer undergraduate and graduate music majors ( N = 60) listened to Mozart’s Variations (12) for Piano in C Major on ‘Ah vous dirai-je maman’, K 265 while manipulating a computer mouse. The cursor on the screen could be moved horizontally along a continuum to indicate focus of attention to either melody or harmony while simultaneously moving along a vertical axis tracking the amount of musical tension being perceived by the listener. Overall, as listeners attended more to harmony, their perception of tension appeared to increase. As they attended more to the melody, their perception of tension appeared to decrease with some exceptions that may relate to other musical elements. Further research using this technology is recommended.