Effects of Excerpt Duration,Tempo,and Performance Level on Musicians' Ratings of Wind Band Performances

Abstract

This study investigated effects of listening example duration on the musical evaluation of wind band performances. In it, 96 music majors rated wind band performances that varied in performance level (high school, university, and professional), tempo (fast and slow), and duration (approximately 12, 25, and 50 seconds). Results showed no main effect for duration; however, there was a significant interaction between duration, tempo, and performance level. Listener ratings were higher for the medium and long durations of the professional and university level performances than for short performances. In contrast, medium and long durations were rated lower than the short examples for high school performances. The slow excerpt was rated higher than the fast excerpt only for professional performances. Analysis of features most noticed by listeners showed that intonation was associated with the relatively low ratings of high school level performances and musical expression was associated with the professional recordings.

Keywords

music evaluation excerpt duration adjudication tempo music expression

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