The role of auralization in pitch or tonality recognition

Abstract

Previous research [E. Terhardt and W. D. Ward, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 72, 26–33 (1982)] has shown that most trained pianists can tell when a particular selection from Bach's “;Well‐Tempered Clavichord” has been shifted upward or downward in key from the original signature, performing at a level significantly better than chance even when this transposition is only one semit. This result implies that these persons posses some form of absolute pitch, or absolute tonality, even though they claim little or no ability to name isolated pitches. The degree to which this recognition process depends on auralization (anticipation of how the excerpt should sound) arising either from the oral announcement of the correct key that precedes each excerpt or from the (untransposed) visible score on the answer sheet was examined by removing these cues. Performance declined slightly but remained above chance, indicating that auralization, while helpful, is not essential. So unless there isa “best” key for any given piano composition, and Bach unerringly chose it, these pianists' recognition of transposition was based at least partly on long‐term memory of the excerpts as heard in the original key. [Research supported by the Bryng Bryngelson Communication Disorders Research Fund.]Previous research [E. Terhardt and W. D. Ward, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 72, 26–33 (1982)] has shown that most trained pianists can tell when a particular selection from Bach's “;Well‐Tempered Clavichord” has been shifted upward or downward in key from the original signature, performing at a level significantly better than chance even when this transposition is only one semit. This result implies that these persons posses some form of absolute pitch, or absolute tonality, even though they claim little or no ability to name isolated pitches. The degree to which this recognition process depends on auralization (anticipation of how the excerpt should sound) arising either from the oral announcement of the correct key that precedes each excerpt or from the (untransposed) visible score on the answer sheet was examined by removing these cues. Performance declined slightly but remained above chance, indicating that auralization, while helpful, is not essential. So unless there isa “best” key for any given piano compos...