Note-by-note analysis of the influence of expressive intentions and musical structure in violin performance

This paper describes an analysis of how the performance of a score differs when musicians are requested to play with differing expression. A professio nal violinist was asked to play short pieces of music in different versions expressing light, heavy, soft, hard, bright, and dark. For comparison, a n ormal, standard performance was recorded. Note-by-note analysis allowed us to identify the variations of the main acoustic parameters as a consequence of varying the expressive intentions. It was possible to identify two dist inct expressive sources. The first refers the musical structure of the peri od, its division into phrases and the continuous alternation of tension and relaxation points. The second depends on the expressive intentions that th e musician wants to convey to the listeners.