IDIOSYNCRATIC ELEMENTS IN MUSIC-RELATED GESTURE-SOUND RELATIONSHIPS: A HINDUSTANI DUET PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study investigates the correlation between body movements and the voice in the context of North Indian Classical (or else Hindustani) vocal music, specifically focusing on its Dhrupad subgenre. In particular, it examines manual interactions with imaginary objects (MIIOs) commonly observed among vocalists, including actions such as stretching, pulling, pushing, and throwing, as well as the physical effort exerted on these occasions. The analysis employs video observations of originally recorded audio-visual material from a Dhrupad vocal improvisation performance. A previous association analysis conducted between MIIO gesture classes, perceived effort levels, and melodic aspects revealed a certain level of consistency among the two vocalists, albeit with individual variations revealing an idiosyncratic aspect in the way these gestures might be expressed. Given that the selected performers (brothers, Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha) share the same musical background and experience and that they are recorded singing in duet in a single performance of the same melodic mode (raga), instead of examining their common gesturing manners, the current paper focuses exclusively on the idiosyncratic deviations in gesturing habits observed between the two brothers and the associations of these gestures to their melodic counterparts. The analysis relies on quantitative statistical methods of pertinent movement and acoustic features, and the results yield valuable insights in ethnomusicology and embodied music cognition. They additionally offer crucial guidance on the use of music technologies and motion capture methods to develop quantitative approaches that complement existing qualitative methodologies.