Harmony as notation in musical listening

Interactions between sound and notation in harmonic analysis

Authors

  • Matías Tanco, Prof. Laboratorio para el Estudio de la Experiencia Musical (LEEM) Facultad de Bellas Artes (FBA) – Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21932/epistemus.4.3063.1

Keywords:

musical listening, musical notation, roman numerals, harmonic listening, harmonic analysis

Abstract

The use of roman numerals to indicate chords is the most widespread type of musical notation for harmonic analysis within the academy. In this paper we investigate the use of roman numerals’ labeling for harmonic content that music students perform in musical listening activities. In the study, participants transcribed the prelude of a baroque cello suite, where the composed melody presented successive tones (not simultaneous) in a voice leading's texture. While performing the task, students made sound productions with voice and/or an instrument to play and harmonic reductions notated in a staff, from which finally labeled the chords. The results show different responses to the harmonic degrees that were notated between the boundaries of tonic and dominant harmonies of the first sentence of the prelude. The discussion links the musical listening that occurs in the interaction of the student with the recording and the production of harmonic reductions that allows the interpretation the voices' movement, involving performative aspects that integrates the analysis, the music theory and the notation of harmony as roman numerals.

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Author Biography

Matías Tanco, Prof., Laboratorio para el Estudio de la Experiencia Musical (LEEM) Facultad de Bellas Artes (FBA) – Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP)

Es Músico, Docente e Investigador. Obtuvo sus títulos de Licenciado y Profesor en Música con Orientación Educación Musical en la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Se desempeña como Jefe de Trabajos Prácticos en la Cátedra Audioperceptiva 1 y 2, de la Facultad de Bellas Artes (UNLP). Integra la Comisión Directiva de la Sociedad Argentina para las Ciencias Cognitivas de la Música (SACCoM) como Vocal Titular. Es Integrante del Laboratorio para el Estudio de la Experiencia Musical (LEEM-FBA-UNLP) y Becario de la UNLP. Actualmente se encuentra realizando su tesis en el Doctorado en Artes (FBA-UNLP).

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Published

2016-07-22

How to Cite

Tanco, M. (2016). Harmony as notation in musical listening: Interactions between sound and notation in harmonic analysis. Epistemus. Journal of Studies in Music, Cognition & Culture, 4(1), 111–131. https://doi.org/10.21932/epistemus.4.3063.1

Issue

Section

Artículos originales de investigación