Tracking performance correlates of changes in perceived intensity of emotion during different interpretations of a Chopin piano prelude

This study demonstrates a comprehensive method for linking expert musicians ' interpretive choices and associated performances to listeners' perception s of emotionality. In Phase 1 of the study, 10 expert pianists recorded the ir prepared interpretations of a highly emotional piece of music (E Chopin' s Prelude op. 28, no. 4). They were also interviewed about their deliberate interpretive choices. In Phase 2, 28 musicians listened to the interpretat ions and provided postperformance ratings of expressivity and other perform ance aspects. During listening, subjects moved a mouse pointer on a continu ous response computer interface, rating the moment-to-moment (concurrent) l evel of perceived emotionality. The correlation between postperformance rat ings of expressivity and mean concurrent ratings was moderate (.50). In gen eral, musical structure and the trajectory (trace) of concurrent emotionali ty ratings corresponded strongly. Statistically reliable trace divergences between individual performances and the grand mean performance demonstrated systematic relationships between emotionality ratings and performance data (loudness, timing). Increases in emotionality appear to be caused by speci fic local deviations from the performance characteristics of an average per formance. Interpretive choices clustered at musical phrase boundaries. Many of the analyzed divergences were reflected in performers' interpretive int entions as revealed in interview data.