Abstract
This research aims to study the perception of relative durational and cross-rhythm patterns when they are converted into melodic or harmonic patterns. Twenty-four international students from Groningen conservatoire were given twenty- four trials; twelve deals with their melodic/harmonic perception ability and the other twelve deals with the ability to perceive the converted rhythmical patterns. The purpose of the twelve first trials was to see if the perception ability patterns within a single property (part A) are done in the rational perception ability patterns of relative durations to melody or cross rhythms to harmony (part B). This was not the case, although there were some notable exceptions. The results in PART B had a great variety ranging from 4 to 87.5% accuracy rate, pointing that the relative difficulty of the trials was of great importance. If the comparison patterns are complex and have common elements with the standard pattern, then the accuracy of the subjects decreases. This contrasts the significant accuracy scores if the comparison patterns differ much in complexity and have no common elements with the standard pattern. Key words: Ratios, rhythmical patterns, Gestalt, perceptual invariance, intramodal transfer, rational scales, cross-properties matching.
Highlights
The recognition of patterns and similarities among them is a common human attribute
In particular, a field that this research embraced has had from the ancient Greek Pythagoras to the modern avant-garde composer Henry Cowell, its pioneers of assimilating specific ratio patterns
Regarding the individual results for part A (Appendix 2), only one subject managed to get all trials in melodic patterns accuracy correct (#5), and four succeeded in five out of six trials
Summary
In particular, a field that this research embraced has had from the ancient Greek Pythagoras to the modern avant-garde composer Henry Cowell, its pioneers of assimilating specific ratio patterns. By realizing the importance of using ratios for structuring melodies, harmonies, rhythms and themes, one would wonder if humans are able to perceive similar, equivalent rational patterns, not from a single sound property as it has usually been the case, but from different properties. Cowell (1930), being one of the most novel composers of the 20th century, suggested that one could make rhythmical and durational relations from the ratios of the harmonic series. He composed pieces with that in mind
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
