Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary research on musical research on musical
timbretimbre Bringing together sciences, Bringing together sciences, humanities and musical humanities and musical practicepractice
Richard ParncuttRichard Parncutt
University of GrazUniversity of GrazInvited presentation at the Conference on Interdisciplinary Musicology, Montreal, Canada, March 2005
Objectives of Objectives of presentationpresentation
examine research frameworks examine research frameworks apply CIM concept to timbreapply CIM concept to timbre guide future research guide future research questions not answersquestions not answers
Structure of Structure of presentationpresentation
1.1. Definition of “musicology”Definition of “musicology”
2.2. Structure of musicologyStructure of musicology
3.3. InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity
4.4. TimbreTimbre
5.5. RelevanceRelevance
6.6. CIM05CIM05
Part 1Part 1
Definition of “musicology”Definition of “musicology”
““Musicology” in theoryMusicology” in theory
(all) scholarship about (all) music(all) scholarship about (all) music cf. Grove, MGGcf. Grove, MGG
““Musicology” in practiceMusicology” in practice
music history of western cultural music history of western cultural eliteselites
sources: historical documentssources: historical documents associated methods and techniquesassociated methods and techniques tradition since 19th centurytradition since 19th century
““Musicology” journalsMusicology” journals Acta musicologicaActa musicologica Archiv für MusikwissenschaftArchiv für Musikwissenschaft Current MusicologyCurrent Musicology Journal of the American Musicological SocietyJournal of the American Musicological Society Journal of Musicological ResearchJournal of Musicological Research Journal of MusicologyJournal of Musicology MusikforschungMusikforschung Revue de MusicologieRevue de Musicologie Studien zur MusikwissenschaftStudien zur Musikwissenschaft
... plus many musicology journals of smaller countries... plus many musicology journals of smaller countries
Tacit assumptions of Tacit assumptions of “musicology”“musicology”
(Obviously) (more) important:(Obviously) (more) important: history history western culture and music western culture and music music of cultural elitesmusic of cultural elites
Eurocentricity? 19th-century Eurocentricity? 19th-century colonialism?colonialism?
Solutions: JournalsSolutions: Journals
Acknowledge problem in preface Acknowledge problem in preface Change name, e.g.Change name, e.g.
Western MusicWestern Music
Western Artificial MusicWestern Artificial Music
History of Notated Western MusicHistory of Notated Western Music
Change scope of journal Change scope of journal
Part 2Part 2
Structure of musicologyStructure of musicology
Repertoire-based musicologies: Repertoire-based musicologies: TrendsTrends
Source: Jonathan Stock , Current Musicology, 1998
““Musicology”Musicology” EthnomusicologyEthnomusicology““music”music” scorescore part of culturepart of culture
readershireadershipp
““musicologists”musicologists” interdisciplinaryinterdisciplinary
repertoryrepertory lostlost disappearingdisappearing
focusfocus composer, scorecomposer, score performanceperformance
conceptsconcepts individual, individual, idiosyncratic, idiosyncratic, history, history, development, development, musical autonomy, musical autonomy, formal unityformal unity
culture, typical, culture, typical, tradition, change, tradition, change, social function, cultural social function, cultural uniquenessuniqueness
authorityauthority scholarscholar informantsinformants
Tripartite model: USATripartite model: USA““musicology” / theory / musicology” / theory /
ethnomusicologyethnomusicology
Problems:Problems: ““musical sciences” are not musical sciences” are not
“musicology”“musicology” too little communication between too little communication between
musicology/theory and musicology/theory and ethnomusicologyethnomusicology
Tripartite model: Tripartite model: GermanyGermany
historicahistoricall
systematicsystematic ethno-ethno-
(tacit) (tacit) def.def.
western western cultural elitescultural elites mus mus contextscontexts
sciences, abstract, sciences, abstract, interdisciplinaryinterdisciplinary mus. phenomenamus. phenomena
non-western, non-western, non-elitenon-elite mus. mus. contextscontexts
modemodern rn
contecontentnt
analysis; analysis; periods, periods, genres; genres;
cult. stud.cult. stud.
acoustics, acoustics, psychology, psychology, sociology; aesthetics, sociology; aesthetics, philosophy, philosophy, physiology, media, physiology, media, computing...computing...
elite, popular, elite, popular, folk; folk; continents, continents, regions, regions, genres, genres, subculturessubcultures
prob-prob-lemslems
(none)(none) remainder? auxiliary?remainder? auxiliary? larger and more diverselarger and more diverse fewer professorships?fewer professorships?
(German) Tripartite model: (German) Tripartite model: ProblemsProblems
not justified:not justified: central position of history central position of history of western cultural elitesof western cultural elites
not not integrated:integrated:
musical practicemusical practice
not not classified:classified:
theory, gender, jazz/pop, theory, gender, jazz/pop, prehistoryprehistory
not enough:not enough: communication among communication among subdisciplinessubdisciplines
not unified:not unified: musicologymusicology
A personal apologyA personal apology
I love the “western bourgeous I love the “western bourgeous canon”canon”
History is History is not lessnot less important important Aim: new Aim: new balancebalance
Evolution of disciplinary Evolution of disciplinary structuresstructures
top-down attempts to categorizetop-down attempts to categorize bottom-up quasi-random expansionbottom-up quasi-random expansion
Musicology: Alternative Musicology: Alternative structure Astructure A
specificaspecifically lly musicalmusical
theory, analysis, composition, theory, analysis, composition, performanceperformance
humanitihumanitieses
history, cultural studies, history, cultural studies, philosophyphilosophy
sciencessciences acoustics, psychology, acoustics, psychology, physiology, media, computingphysiology, media, computing
mixturesmixtures sociology, anthropology, sociology, anthropology, prehistoryprehistory
practicepractice education, medicine, therapyeducation, medicine, therapy
Musicology: Alternative Musicology: Alternative structure Bstructure B
statusstatus focusfocus examplesexamplescore core ““music itself”music itself” theory, analysis, composition, theory, analysis, composition,
performanceperformancecentral central musical musical
contexts and contexts and phenomena phenomena
acoustics, anthropology, acoustics, anthropology, cult.stud., history, psychology, cult.stud., history, psychology, sociology sociology
peripheralperipheral support of core support of core and centraland central
computing, psychoacoustics, computing, psychoacoustics, philosophy, physiology, philosophy, physiology, prehistory prehistory
neighborinneighboringg
non-mus. non-mus. culture & culture & communication communication
art, literature, linguisticsart, literature, linguistics
practicalpractical individual individual needsneeds
education, therapy, medicine education, therapy, medicine
Part 3Part 3
InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity
InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity
boundaries of disciplines are fuzzyboundaries of disciplines are fuzzy disciplines are more or less establisheddisciplines are more or less established disciplines are more or less distantdisciplines are more or less distant not not whetherwhether ID, but ID, but how muchhow much degree of ID is a matter of opiniondegree of ID is a matter of opinion role of collaboration role of collaboration motivation, flexibility, curiosity, daringmotivation, flexibility, curiosity, daring
Interdisciplinarity within Interdisciplinarity within musicologymusicology
sciencscienceses
humanitieshumanities practicepractice
contentcontent objectobject subjectsubject actionaction
methodmethodss
empiricalempirical intersubjectivintersubjectivee
trial and errortrial and error
Interdisciplinary challenges:Interdisciplinary challenges: content and method boundariescontent and method boundaries content-method combinationscontent-method combinations
Part 4Part 4
TimbreTimbre
Philosophy of realityPhilosophy of reality
physical, experiential, abstract physical, experiential, abstract (Popper)(Popper)
equally validequally valid exist in parallelexist in parallel clearly distinguishclearly distinguish
DescriptionDescription
in humanities and sciencesin humanities and sciences in music, art, literaturein music, art, literature role of language and linguisticsrole of language and linguistics sciences: same semantic sciences: same semantic
differential can describe differential can describe completely unrelated completely unrelated multidimensional objects multidimensional objects
psychology: description of other psychology: description of other sensationssensations
Structure of timbre researchStructure of timbre research
sciencesciencess
non-biolog.non-biolog. physics, electronics, computingphysics, electronics, computing
humanhuman (neuro-) physiology, psychology(neuro-) physiology, psychology
humanhuman-ities-ities
repertoirerepertoire theory, analysis, semiotics, theory, analysis, semiotics, receptionreception
contextcontext ethnomusicology, cultural ethnomusicology, cultural studiesstudies
musicamusical l practicpracticee
structurestructure composition, improvisation, composition, improvisation, orchestration, arrangementorchestration, arrangement
soundsound voice, gesture, emotion, voice, gesture, emotion, imitation; synthesis, processing, imitation; synthesis, processing, recording, MIRrecording, MIR
Specific issues in timbre Specific issues in timbre researchresearch
brainstormingbrainstorming questions not answersquestions not answers
Nature and origins of Nature and origins of timbretimbre
Phylogenetic:Phylogenetic:
prehuman hominids prehuman hominids Ontogenetic:Ontogenetic:
everyday modern everyday modern lifelife
Evolution and ecologyinteraction between organisms and sound sources:• perceptible sound structures • affordances of sound sources
Function: source recognition
Aural sensitivityAural sensitivity
Useful sound parameters carry Useful sound parameters carry reliable information about the reliable information about the source.source.
Phase information is lost when Phase information is lost when direct and reflected sound are direct and reflected sound are superposedsuperposed
So ear is insensitive to phase So ear is insensitive to phase except inexcept in attack portion attack portion
Other senses and blendingOther senses and blending
sight (colour), smell, taste, (tactile) sight (colour), smell, taste, (tactile) feelfeel
what “goes together” or blends?what “goes together” or blends? analogies and differences between analogies and differences between
blended timbres, colors, smells etc?blended timbres, colors, smells etc?
Synaesthesia and timbreSynaesthesia and timbre
interactions between sensesinteractions between senses investigate with Stroop investigate with Stroop
paradigmparadigm nature-nurture questionnature-nurture question
Categorical perceptionCategorical perception
Two aspects:Two aspects: mapping of continuum to labelsmapping of continuum to labels better discriminability at boundariesbetter discriminability at boundaries
Interdisciplinary question:Interdisciplinary question: cultural functions and implications?cultural functions and implications?
Timbre and harmonyTimbre and harmony
What is timbre of a fused chord?What is timbre of a fused chord? timbral similarity of chordstimbral similarity of chords similarity of pitch-class setssimilarity of pitch-class sets
Visual vs. auditory Visual vs. auditory aesthetics aesthetics
CommonalitiesCommonalities scene, gestaltscene, gestalt holistic vs analyticholistic vs analytic foreground vs backgroundforeground vs background
Why so little interaction between…Why so little interaction between… IAEA vs ICMPC?IAEA vs ICMPC? schools of art and music?schools of art and music?
Timbre and the bodyTimbre and the body
physiology: skin and basilar physiology: skin and basilar membranemembrane
ethnomusicology: ritualethnomusicology: ritual culture: gender, sexuality, class, raceculture: gender, sexuality, class, race hedonism and quality of lifehedonism and quality of life
Music as a virtual personMusic as a virtual person
social functions of musicsocial functions of music philosophy: persona theoryphilosophy: persona theory music as virtual discourse or theatremusic as virtual discourse or theatre human qualities of music (Watt & Ash) human qualities of music (Watt & Ash) strong experiences; lonelinessstrong experiences; loneliness prenatal cog. representation of motherprenatal cog. representation of mother infant timbral acquisition via bodyinfant timbral acquisition via body
Timbral aestheticsTimbral aesthetics
evolutionary psychology: evolutionary psychology:
attractiveness = ability to reproduceattractiveness = ability to reproduce Is there an absolute timbral Is there an absolute timbral
aesthetic?aesthetic? Is “attractive” timbre Is “attractive” timbre
smooth, voice-like, energetic, smooth, voice-like, energetic, original?original?
History of timbral History of timbral fashionfashion
typical timbres of styles and periodstypical timbres of styles and periods sociology of musical preferencesociology of musical preference timbre and rapid music recognitiontimbre and rapid music recognition survival value: language, dialect, survival value: language, dialect,
group group timbre and personal musical identity timbre and personal musical identity
Audiation of timbreAudiation of timbre
empirical exploration? empirical exploration? accuracy, stability?accuracy, stability? behavioral, experiential, behavioral, experiential,
neurological...neurological... relation to culture and repertoirerelation to culture and repertoire
Piano “touch” and Piano “touch” and “tone”“tone”
mechanics of actionmechanics of action physical descriptions of real tonesphysical descriptions of real tones timbre perceptiontimbre perception physiology, cognition, motor controlphysiology, cognition, motor control gestural and timbral idealsgestural and timbral ideals
Part 5Part 5
RelevanceRelevance
Practical relevancePractical relevance
help performers understand help performers understand communication communication
give composers theories and tools give composers theories and tools audiology: timbre of phonemesaudiology: timbre of phonemes room acoustics: timbre of performance room acoustics: timbre of performance
spacespace artificial speech and roboticsartificial speech and robotics recordingrecording commercial, e.g. corporate identitycommercial, e.g. corporate identity
Social relevanceSocial relevance
public interestpublic interest understanding art and understanding art and
cultureculture market valuemarket value
Political relevancePolitical relevance
Do world events have timbre? Do world events have timbre?
Example: Example: Penderecki's Penderecki's Threnody for Threnody for the victims of Hiroshimathe victims of Hiroshima
Can public awareness of political Can public awareness of political issues by raised by means of timbre? issues by raised by means of timbre?
Example: Example: multimedia advertising multimedia advertising logoslogos
Part 6Part 6
CIM05CIM05
Timbre of CIM05Timbre of CIM05
diverse, open diverse, open explorative, creativeexplorative, creative risky, radicalrisky, radical constructive, criticalconstructive, critical
Success of CIM05Success of CIM05
BALANCE:BALANCE: two main disciplines of presentationtwo main disciplines of presentation sciences, humanities, practicesciences, humanities, practice history vs. other disciplineshistory vs. other disciplines western vs. non-western musicwestern vs. non-western music elite music vs. pop/folkelite music vs. pop/folk
Contribution to Contribution to musicologymusicology
unity, identityunity, identity academic qualityacademic quality relevancerelevance
Last CIMLast CIM
Tallin, Estonia 2007: Tallin, Estonia 2007: SingingSinging
??????
Next CIM(s)Next CIM(s)
order abstract book at receptionorder abstract book at reception
Thanks to:Thanks to:
Caroline TraubeCaroline Traube Serge LacasseSerge Lacasse Michel DuchesneauMichel Duchesneau
...for promoting the concept ...for promoting the concept of interdisciplinary of interdisciplinary musicologymusicology