Abstract

A context-independent model of tonal attraction is presented based on the formal musical property of interval cycles. An interval cycle is the minimum number of additive iterations of an interval that are required for the original pitch classes to be re-stated. Interval cycles are conjectured to give rise to an abstract grouping property, interval cycle proximity, which in turn is responsible for tonal attraction. The model was tested using a probe tone experiment requiring subjects to rate the probe for strength of attraction/resolution with respect to a preceding context chord. The results, displayed as ‘attraction profiles’, agreed with the predictions of the model, and showed that even diatonic chords, such as dominant sevenths, can be heard chromatically. The results are discussed in relation to examples of real music and previous research within the field.

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