Perception of Tonality in Short Melodies

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to utilize information theory in quantifying the strength of tonality (TS) in short melodies, and to observe changes in TS values as a function of the melody length, contour, pitch structure, and condition under which the melodies were presented. The results indicated that for tonal melodies only, greater tonal strength is a function of high perception ability and the condition under which the subjects perceive the melodies. TS values for atonal melodies were unchanged as functions of perception ability and the other experimental variables. It was concluded that perception of tonality in melodies is a learned phenomenon, and that information theory is a viable measurement technique.

Keywords

aesthetic sensitivity auditory perception aural discrimination college fundamentals testing

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Attneave, F. Applications of Information Theory to Psychology: A Summary of Basic Concepts, Methods, and Results. New York: Henry Holt and Co., Inc., 1959.

Brawley, J. G. Application of Information Theory to Musical Rhythm. Unpublished master's thesis (Indiana University, 1959).

Broadbent, D. E. Perception and Communication. New York: Pergamon Press, 1958.

Cherry, C. “The Communication of Information (An Historical Review)”. American Scientist, Vol. 40, No. 2 (1952), pp. 640–663.

Cherry, C. On Human Communication. Cambridge, Mass.: The M.I.T. Press, 1968.

Cohen, J. E. “Information Theory and Music”. Behavioral Science, Vol. 7 (1962), pp. 137–163.

Crozier, J. B. “Verbal and Exploratory Responses to Sound Sequences Varying in Uncertainty Level”. In D. E. Berlyne , ed. Studies in the New Experimental Aesthetics: Steps Toward an Objective Psychology of Aesthetic Appreciation. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1974, pp. 27–90.

Kraehenbuehl, D. and E. Coons , “Information As a Measure of the Experience of Music”. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Vol. 17 (1959), pp. 510–522.

Meyer, L. B. “Meaning in Music and Information Theory”. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Vol. 15 (1957), p. 412.

10.

Mindus, L. The Role of Redundancy and Complexity in the Perception of Tonal Patterns. Unpublished master's thesis (Clark University, 1968).

11.

Moles, A. Information Theory and Esthetic Perception. Translated by J. E. Cohen . Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1966.

12.

Overmier, J. B. Auditory Pattern Preference as a Function of Informational Content. Unpublished master's thesis. (Bowling Green State University, 1962).

13.

Pierce, J. R. Symbols, Signals, and Noise: The Nature and Process of Communication. New York: Harper and Row, 1961.

14.

Pinkerton, R. C. “Information Theory and Melody”. Scientific American, Vol. 194, No. 2 (1956), pp. 77–86.

15.

Quastler, H. Information Theory in Psychology. Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press, 1955.

16.

Shannon, C. E. , and W. Weaver . The Mathematical Theory of Communication. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1948.

17.

Taylor, J. A. “Perception of Melodic Intervals within Melodic Context”. Dissertation Abstracts International (1972), 6481A–6482A (University of Washington).

18.

Taylor, J. A. Tonality of Short Melodies. Unpublished manuscript (Florida State University, 1973).

19.

Winer, B. J. Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1962.