the informed performer final version rev
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The following handle holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation: http://hdl.handle.net/1887/59504 Author: Vanmaele, J. Title: The informed performer : towards a bio-culturally informed performers’ practice Issue Date: 2017-12-20
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Chapter13: Feelingthescore–towardsanInteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysis
InWestern ArtMusic, the preservation ofmusic across centuries is accomplishedmainly through
notation.Thescoreisaskeletonofmusicalthoughtwhichisrevivedintoanexperienceaffordingsonic
(andvisual)environmentbymeansofaperformer.Bringinganotatedstructure to life isacentral
concerninmusicalpracticeandinvolvesanactofembodiedrealisationandvaryingdegreesofcreative
assessmentandinterpretation.Suchperformativemediationleadstomicrostructuraladaptationsor
(re-)constructions in terms of parameters such as rhythmic grouping, melodic grouping, metric
accents,tempo,dynamics,timing,durationandarticulation,andengagesvariouslevelsofconscious,
intuitiveorhabitualinvolvement.
Ontheintentionallevelandinsystematicterms,theprimarydistinctionbetweenperformativeand
hermeneuticorcriticalinterpretationhasalreadybeenintroducedinChapter2:criticalinterpretation
“ascribes,explains,andrelates,aimingtoprovideanaccountofawork’simportandfunctioning,both
localandglobal”(Levinson,1993,p.34),whereasperformativeinterpretationis“aconsideredwayof
playingapieceofmusicinvolvinghighlyspecificdeterminationsofallthedefiningfeaturesofthepiece
asgivenbythescoreanditsassociatedconventionsofreading”(Levinson,1993,p.36).
A tool that is generally called into support of either of these two interpretativemodes ismusical
analysis; in this chapter, the focus is on exploring the possibility of devising an experience- and
practice-proofapparatusforcreativeperformativemusicalanalysisasviewedfromthetenetsofaBio-
Culturally informed Performers’ Practice (see 10.3). The most characteristic element of such an
approach is that an analytical focus on interactive and transactional affordances occasions a shift
wherenolongerthescore,butthebody,astheprimarycauseofthemusicalenvironmentandasan
amplifierofacodedsonicenvironment,becomestheprimeintentionalobjectofanalysis.
Toarriveatsuchananalyticalframework,firstly,thestateofthefieldwillbeassessed,followedbya
punctualpresentationofsevenselectedInformationUnitsthatpertaintotheBCiPPattractor-domain
of‘interaction’.TherecontextualisationoftheseIUsinthefieldofperformanceandaproposalfor
reproducingthemviaapracticaltoolprecedethechapter-closewhichpresentsanInteractionaland
Bio-topicalPerformativeAnalysisandrenditionofChopin’sMazurkaop.67nr.4.
13.1 Areservoirofanalyticaltools
Performativeanalysisofsomekindisanintricatepartofeverymusician’spersonaltheory.Musicians
intheearlystagesofstudy,havingnoadvancedtheoreticalunderstandingofmusic,relyonvisual,
motorandauralmemorywhenassimilatingnewpiecesbutalsoestablishprimitiveandpracticalproto-
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conceptual landmarks in larger-scale compositions; these structural elements relate to a personal
assessmentoftheaffectivedevelopmentofthecomposition,themainstructuralsections,thevisual
presentationofthescore,ormorepunctualtechnicalelementssuchasparticularhandpositionsor
tessiture-relatedaspects(highestnote,lowestnote).Nexttoindividualstrategies,thecommunication
betweenteacherandstudentsoonstartstoinvolveelementsofproto-analysiswhenaparticularpiece
isdiscussedintermsofitsexpressivepotential.Often,thesecommunicationsimplyapersonalsetof
habitually encountered affective states (e.g. dreamy, happy, sad), events (e.g. wedding, royal
crowning, funeral) or imaginativemetaphorswhich refer to environmental factors (e.g. fountains,
rivers,woods).
Froma functional perspective, theseprimitive types of performativemusical analysis are not only
instrumentalinlearningandmemorizingnewpieces,orindevelopingstyle-awarenessviacomparative
analysis,theyalsoprovideguidanceduringtheactofperformance;theyallowforthepreventionof
chokingandfacilitateanattention-managementthatfocusesonwhatisgoingoninthemusic(external
focus)ratherthatoninternalthoughts(self-monitoring–internalfocus)(Beilock&Carr,2001;Green
&Gallwey,1987).However,andnexttothesepracticalroles,theultimateambitionofanalysiswould
beitscontributiontoperformativeimaginationandcreativity:analysisshouldprovideanopportunity
toapproachthescorefromanunexpectedangleandtochallengehabitualinferencesandintuitions,
andleadthemintonovelconfigurations.Thisfunctionality isakintotheroleofexperimentationin
physics:viatheinstrumentsofsciencenaturalphenomenatransformintoscientificphenomenawhich
canthenbefurtherstudiedandrelated.
This latter functionality openspossibilities for a linkwith the field ofmusic theory, aesthetics and
critical analysiswhich is a vast anddifferentiated terrain but converges around the central aimof
discovering(orimposing)andclassifyingstructureandintrinsicrelationsinamusicalwork.Withinthat
generalfieldofenquiry,eachformofanalysisdevelopsspecialisedtoolsthattargetspecificmusical
parameters(pitch,melody,rhythm,harmony)orlargescaledevelopmentswithinacomposition(form,
narrative,motives,themes)(Cook,1987,p.9).
Therelationbetweenanalysisandperformanceisalong-standingissueofdebateandthepositions
range from perspectives that advocate analytically informed performances over performatively
informedanalysestoperspectivesthatshunanalysisinthecontextofperformancealtogether(Hatten,
2010).Thefirstvariantisaratherprescriptiveapproachthatentailsaconceptionoftheworkasideal
objectthatmustbepreciselymanifestedinall itsstructurebyasubservientperformerwhomerely
realizesitsdesignsinsound.MusictheoristWallaceBerryadvocatesthisone-sidedperspectiveinhis
1989textbook,MusicalStructureandPerformance(Berry,1989).Theprogrammeofperformatively
informedanalysesconsidersthescoreasatextorascriptasopposedtoananalyticallyfixedwork.
Within this context, new gestural synthesesmay be discovered that engage the performer’s best
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instinctsforphrasingaswellastheanalyst’shierarchicalanalysisofcompositionalunitsorsegments.
Examples of such negotiations can be found in the cooperating venture between music theorist
DaphneLeongandflutistElizabethMcNutt (Leong&McNutt,2005)and intheperformancebased
mappings that pianist Alessandro Cervino presents in his doctoral dissertation Mapping the
Performer’sCreativeSpace:anexplorationinandthroughpianoplaying(Cervino,2012).Thethirdand
mostcriticalvoice in thedebateon therelationbetweenanalysisandperformance ismostclearly
represented by musicologist Carolyn Abbate and music educator Christopher Small. Abbate has
criticizedhermeneuticandevenperformativeapproachesasbeingalltoognosticintheirpursuitof
hiddenandmetaphysicalmeanings.391Inplaceofthesestudiedandsymbolicabstractionsthataimat
makingtheopaquetransparent,shenotesthatactualperformanceforegroundselementsofamore
drasticandphysicalnatureinvolvingacategoryofknowledgethatflowsfromactionsorexperiences
andnotfromverballymediatedreasoning(Abbate,2004).Musicisnotsomethingtobesaid,butto
beplayed(Jankélévitch,1961/2003,p.xvi).InthesameveinSmallhasarguedagainstthefocusinthe
Westernclassicaltraditiononmusicalworksandtherelegationofperformancetoasubordinatestatus
which,accordingtoSmall,hashadanimpoverishingeffectonmusicalexperience.Heconcludesquite
provocativelythat“performancedoesnotexistinordertopresentmusicalworks,butrathermusical
worksexistinordertogiveperformerssomethingtoperform”(Small,1998,p.8).Withthisstatement,
Smalladherestoabio-culturalapproachtomusicwhereaperformerisconsideredtobethefirstcause
ofcreatinganenvironmentandwherethespecificsituationofWesternArtMusicwithitsdifferential
rolesattributedtoperformerandcomposerareconsideredtobebutaculturalparticularisationofa
dyadic and interactional relation between art-maker and the art-experiencer. Such a perspective,
however,doesnoterasetherealityofscore-basedperformancewhereacodedscriptisanessential
elementoftheparticularsituation;anelementthatneedstobeadequatelyapproachedinfunctionof
amusicalexperience.
Within all these orientations a persistent challenge presents itselfwith regard to the relevance of
systematic analytical work to performance. Attempts to close the gap between performance and
analysisincludeHeinrichSchenker’sthinkingwheremusicisconsideredasaclassofhumanexperience
withasitsmostfundamentallayerasenseofdirectedmotiontowardsanending-point.Byanalytically
stripping away inessentials such as surface form and claiming access to primary elements of
experience, Schenker comes close to amodus operandi akin to the process of phenomenological
reduction(Cook,1987,p.67).Likewiserelatedtothisurgeforgeneralandexperience-basedprinciples
are thepsychologicalapproaches toanalysis thatarisemostprominently in thesecondhalfof the
twentieth century (Cook, 1987, pp. 67–115). In Emotion and Meaning in Music (Meyer, 1956),
391TheoppositionbetweendrasticandgnosticisborrowedfromJankélévitch(1961/2003).
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composerandphilosopherLeonardMeyercombinesGestaltTheory392andpragmatic,consequentialist
theories to come to an understanding of emotion and meaning in music as resulting from the
frustrationofexpectations.ThisleadsMeyertoanalysecompositionsintermsoflistenerexpectations
atanygivenpointinapieceofmusic,andcomparingthesetotheactualrealisation.Hisworkgoeson
toinfluencetheoristsbothinandoutsidemusic,aswellasprovidingabasisforcognitivepsychology
researchintomusicandourresponsestoit(Narmour,1977,1990;Huron,2006).
Adoptingamacro-perspectiveonanalyticalefforts inscore-basedmusicperformance,at least four
intentionalobjectscanbediscernedthathaveenjoyedextra-disciplinaryinterestandenquiryinterms
ofanalysis.
1. Thescoreasadescriptive(howshoulditsound?),prescriptive(whatshouldaperformerdo?)
andexpressive(whatwasthecomposer’sintention/idea?)symbolhasbeenthemainfocusof
analyicalattention.Thisdomainislargelycoveredbyasub-fieldofmusicology:musictheory.
2. Thelistener’sreceptiveexperiencepertainstothedomainofaesthetics,musicpsychology,and
musiccriticism.
3. Theperformer’sgesturesbothfromareceptiveandagenerativepointofviewareanobject
ofanalysismainlyinthefieldofpsychology(Davidson1993,1995,2001).
4. Thesoundofmusicasanexpressiveactualisationofthescorehasbeenamorerecentfocus
of attention and comparative analysis in music psychology and in projects such as AHRC
Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music [CHARM] and the AHRC
ResearchCentreforMusicalPerformanceasCreativePractice[CMPCP].
It is safe to say that, although efforts have been made to stimulate a rapprochement between
systematic analytical theory and performers’ concerns393, the outcomeof these initiatives has not
resulted(yet)inaself-evidentexchangeofideasbetweenthefieldsofsystematicmusicalanalysisin
musical practice. Schenkerian analysis and psychology-based analytical approaches have barely
reachedperformancecurricula(certainlynotintheEuropeancontext)andmostmusicians’analytical
repertoirestillconsistsofproto-analyticaltools(deep-learning,keenobservation,intuition,metaphor)
392GestaltPsychologyisaschoolofthoughtinpsychologyoriginatingintheearly20thcenturythatfocusedonperceptionandemphasizedtheorganizationofexperienceintowholesthatweremorethanthesumsoftheirparts.393InstitutionalinitiativessuchastheOrpheusAcademiesforMusicandTheoryanditssubsequentpublications(Agsteribbe&Dejans,1999;Beelaert,Dejans,&Snyers,2007;Crispin,2009,2012;Moelants,2010,2014;Brooks,2014)aswellasapublicationssuchasBeethoven'sTempestSonata(firstmovement):fiveannotatedanalysesforperformersandscholars(Bergé,D’Hoe,Caplin,&Beethoven,2012)allattesttoanawarenessofthischallengeandanappreciationofthepotentialthatliesinaninformativerelationbetweenanalyticaltheoryandpractice.
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complementedwithessentialmusic-theoreticalunderstandingsaboutform(e.g.sonata-form, lied),
chord-progressionsandcounterpoint.
Theprojectofdevisingabio-culturallyinformedtoolformusicalanalysiscanbesituatedwithinthe
context of filling the gap between abstract analysis and performative functionality. Within the
frameworkofBCiPP,analysisisconsideredasatoolforfacilitatingandopeningpossibilitieswithregard
totheinteractionalpotentialthatacompositionholdsasanintentionallycreatedsonicenvironment.
Inthetopicalattractor-modelpresentedinChapter11,fivecategorieswereproposedthat‘attract’
informationaboutexperience-enablingelements.Inthischapter,thesecategories–perception,affect
regulation/attunement,expression,jointattention/sharedintentionality,mimesisanddiegesis–will
befurtherexploredfortheirgenerativepotentialinfunctionofaninteraction-andexperience-based
deviceforperformativeanalysis.
13.2 IntroducingInformationUnitsfromthedomainofmusicalinteraction
The volume of extra-disciplinary information that is available to feed the domain of performative
analysisisconsiderable.Below,sevenunitsofinformationhavebeenselectedfromamoreextended
database(seeAppendix13)onthebasisoftheirpotentialinformationalimpact.Theyarepunctually
andinformationallypresentedintheirownjus,namelyfromtheperspectiveoftheirsource-domains.
AdiscussionoftheIUsinfunctionofarecontextualizatoninthecontextofperformativeanalysisis
providedafterwards,insection13.3.
13.2.1 IU1:Expressivecultureandthetwo-streamhypothesis–cognitivescience
InBeethoven’sAnvil:MusicinMindandCulture(Benzon,2008),cognitivescientistandjazzmusician
William Benzon regardsmusic as embodying two simultaneous streams: one stream is the cyclic,
repetitive and groove stream, the other the evolving, phrasing and gestural stream which is
underpinnedthebiologicallygivenpatternsbywhichweexpressandcommunicateemotion(seealso
Clynes,1995,pp.279–280;Clynes,1977).
In a series of publications (Benzon, 1993, 2008; Benzon&Hays, 2006) that aim at identifying the
characteristics of expressive culture394, Benzon maintains that these fundamental streams are
differentially represented in three ranks of cultures; in this specific context of expressive cultures,
Benzonaddsathirdstreamwhichrelatestothearchitectonicsofmusicviaharmony.
394Justasculturalevolutionhasgivenhumansevermoresophisticatedconceptualtoolstoreasonwith,soithasgivenusevermoreelaborateandcoherentexpressivetoolsthatengagewithfeelingofourselvesandtheworld (Benzon, 1993, pp. 273–274). Unlike cognitive culture that advances though inventing ever moresophisticatedconceptualtoolsforabstraction,theworksofexpressiveculturearealwaysembeddedinsomemediumthatismanipulatedandcontinuouslydevelopedinordertoelaborateandcontrolourinnerexperience(Benzon,1993,pp.275–276).
353
Rank1culturesdominatedaperiodthatstretchesfromtheemergenceofhumanlanguageandsociety
100,000yearsagouptothedevelopmentofwriting.395AccordingtoBenzon,musicalelaborationin
Rank 1music focuses on rhythm and the groove stream, with rhythmic complexity developed by
manipulatingthephasingofrepetitivepatterns.Melodicdevicesremainrelativelysimple;harmony
playsnostructuralroleinRank1music.
Rank2culturesarerepresentedbytheancienthighcivilizationswithwritingsystems,walledcitiesand
permanentagriculture;Rank2musicincludestheNearandFarEastandmedievalEurope.WithRank
2,thecontrolofmelodybecomesdifferentiatedfromthecontrolofrhythm.Melodicpitchesarenow
intrinsic to the music itself and no longer dependent on pre-existing and dispositional vocal
mechanisms.With theemergenceofmelodicelaboration,creationofmusicalmeaningbycreating
expectations becomes possible. With Rank 2, two aspects of musical material are independently
manipulatedanddevelopedaschannelsofcontrol:rhythmandmelody.Harmonicstructurestillhas
nostructuralsignificance.
TheRenaissanceseesthebirthofRank3culture,whichcontinuesthroughtheIndustrialRevolution
and currently dominates theWestern world. This world gives us classical music characterized by
detailed notation. From melodic elaboration in Rank 2, we now move to harmonic elaboration.
Harmonyasthesimultaneoussoundingoftwoormoredifferenttonesexiststoacertainextentatall
ranks, however, the manipulation of these simultaneous occurrences is not organized into a
constitutiveprinciple.Thatonlyhappensinthepost-RenaissanceWesternworld.Themusicalmaterial
isnowsubjecttothreeindependentsourcesofstructure.
Rank4culturestartsintheartsandscienceswiththebeginningofthe20thcenturyandis,according
totheauthors,aworkinprogressandnotyetamenabletoananalysisinmacro-historicalterms.
13.2.2 IU2:Fourorientationsincriticaltheory–literarycriticism
InTheMirrorandtheLamp:RomanticTheoryandtheCriticalTradition (1953), literarycriticMeyer
HowardAbrams(1912-2015)discernsfourcoordinatesinthetotalsituationofaworkofart:thework,
theartist,anaudience,anda‘universe‘towhichthethreepreviouscoordinatesrelate(Abrams,1953,
p.6).
395Rank1musicalsoincludesmusicoftheindigenousculturesofNorthandSouthAmericaandsub-SaharanAfrica.
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Figure13.1.ThecoordinatesofartcriticismaccordingtoAbrams(1953,p.6).
Abramsassertsthatanyreasonablyadequatetheorytakessomeaccountofallfourelements,butalso
exhibits a discernible orientation toward one specific aspect as a point of departure for defining,
classifying,andanalyzingaworkofart,aswellasthemajorcriteriabywhichhejudgesitsvalue.
Fromthisgeneric framework fourorientationsofcritical theoriescanbe inferred(seealsoPieters,
2007,pp.46–57):
• Amimeticorientationrelatestotheideathataliterarytexthasaclearlyrecognisablerelationtoreality.ArtconsistsinimitatingaspectsoftheuniverseandsuchmimeticpoeticsaremostprominentlyadvocatedbyPlatoandAristotle.
• Apragmaticorientationthatfocusesontherelationbetweentextandaudience.SuchapoeticattitudecanbeobservedinRomanpoeticsofHoracewheretheworkofartislookeduponprimarily as a means to an end, an instrument for getting something done and to effectrequisiteresponsesinitsreadersintermsofpleasureandvirtue.
• AnexpressiveorientationthatcharacterizestheRomanticperiodandconsiderspoeticstobethe expression and overflow of personal feelings and ideas of an artist: “a work of art isessentiallytheinternalmadeexternal,resultingfromacreativeprocessoperatingundertheimpulseoffeeling,andembodyingthecombinedproductofthepoet'sperceptions,thoughts,andfeelings”(Abrams,1953,p.22).
• Anobjectiveorientationthatfocusesontheartworkasaformalstructure.Here,theworkofartisregardedasa“heterocosm”(Abrams,1953,p.27),aworldofitsown,inisolationfromallexternalpointsofreferenceandisanalysedasaself-sufficiententityconstitutedbyitspartsintheirinternalrelations,andisjudgedbycriteriaintrinsictoitsownmodeofbeing.
13.2.3 IU3:Formsoffeeling–philosophyofculture
Inaseriesofpublications,philosopherSusanneLanger(1895-1985)arguesthataworkofartexpresses
humanfeeling.AccordingtoLanger,anexpressiveformis“anyperceptibleorimaginablewholethat
exhibitsrelationshipsofparts,orpoints,orevenqualitiesoraspectswithinthewhole,sothatitmay
betakentorepresentsomeotherwholewhoseelementshaveanalogousrelations”(Langer,1957,p.
20). The role of such forms is to represents things that are not perceivable or readily imaginable.
Categoriessuchas ‘earth’arenotperceivableasanobjectandaretherefore inneedofexpressive
formssuchasmapsorlittleglobesinordertoallowfurtherthinkingaboutthecategory.
UNIVERSE
WORK
ARTIST AUDIENCE
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Amusicalworkissuchanexpressiveformandharboursastructureoftemporalflow,pitchcontours,
anddynamicsthatisanalogoustothefeltpatternsoftheflowinhumanexperience.Whenalistener’s
imaginationiscaughtbythedevelopmentofthesemusicalcontours,thatperson’sexperiencestarts
toresonatewiththefeltqualitiesofthemusic.
Inthecaseofartworks,Langerdifferentiatesbetweenpresentationandrepresentationandargues
that,althoughanexpressiveformsuchasmusicseemstorepresentananalogousentity,“aworkof
artdoesnotpointustoameaningbeyonditsownpresence.Whatisexpressedcannotbegrasped
apart from the sensuous or poetic form that expresses it. In a work of art we have the direct
presentationofafeeling,notasignthatpointstoit”(Langer,1957,pp.133–134).
Feelingthepatternsofthemusicalmotionismeaningfulinthesamewaythatanypatternofemotional
flowismeaningfultousatapre-reflectivelevel.Activelisteningtomusicmeansthentoimaginatively
enteringitsmotionsexperiencingviaourvital,tactile-kinaestheticbodiesthewaysinwhichthemusic
moves,swells,rushes,drags,rises,andfalls.Langersummarizes:“Aworkofartpresentsfeeling[…]
forourcontemplation,makingitvisibleoraudibleorinsomewayperceivablethroughasymbol,not
inferablefromasymptom.Artisticformiscongruentwiththedynamicformsofourdirectsensuous,
mental,andemotionallife”(Langer,1957,p.25).
13.2.4 IU4:Contourandconvention–analyticalphilosophy
PeterKivyaimsatdemonstratinginTheCordedShell:ReflectionsonMusicalExpression(1980)that
“someemotivepredicatesareapplicable tomusic,andwhy theseareapplicable intersubjectively”
(Kivy,1980,p.11).KivyexplicitlyreferstoLanger’spointofviewwithregardtotheanalogybetween
feelingandmusicbutrejectsthepossibilitythatmusicwoulddirectlyrelatetothestructureoffeeling
andemotionandthereforemakesacriticaldistinctionbetween'toexpress'and'tobeexpressiveof':
thefaceofaSaint-Bernardis 'expressiveofsadness'–it lookssad–butthatdoesnotimplythatit
represents the expression of the actual feeling of the dog in question. Similarly, music can be
expressiveofacertainemotion,withoutanecessaryconnectionwiththeconditionofthecomposer.
Inhis ‘contour’ theoryKivyasserts thatmusicdoesnot refer to the structureofemotion itself, as
Langerargues,butrathertotheexpressionofemotionsinvocalutterancesandinbodilygestureand
posture(Kivy,1980,p.53).
Asasecondelementinatheoryofemotiveexpressivenessinmusic,Kivyformulateshis‘convention’
theoryofmusicalexpressivenesswhichexplainstheexpressivenessofmusicasafunction,simply,of
thecustomaryassociationofcertainmusicalfeatureswithcertainemotiveones,quiteapartfromany
structural analogy between them (Kivy, 1980, p. 77). Kivy adds that that “all expressiveness by
conventionwasoriginallyexpressivenessbycontour”(Kivy,1980,p.83).
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13.2.5 IU5:Formsofvitality–psycho-analysis,childdevelopment
Instudiesonthedevelopmentalaspectsofhumanexperience,psychiatristDanielSternfocusesonthe
patternsthatmarktheprocessandflowofourfeltexperiencesuchasthebuildupoftensionandits
release,thesenseofdrifting,theenergeticpursuitofagoal,theanxiousanticipationofsomecoming
event, and the starting and stopping of a process. Stern calls these patterns ‘vitality affects’ and
describesthemas“thosedynamic,kineticqualitiesoffeelingthatdistinguishanimatefrominanimate
andthatcorrespondtothemomentarychangesinfeelingstatesinvolvedintheorganicprocessesof
beingalive”(Stern,1985,p.156).AccordingtoStern,vitalityaffectsareexperiencedasdynamicshifts
orpatternedchangeswithinourselvesorothers.Theydonotcorrespondto traditionalcategorical
affectssuchasjoy,anger,sadnessbutareformsofdynamicattunementtoaparticularenvironment
orevent.Intersubjectiveaffectattunement,then,is“theperformanceofbehavioursthatexpressthe
qualityof feelingofasharedaffectstatewithout imitatingtheexactbehaviouralexpressionofthe
innerstate”(Stern,1985,p.142).396
Inasubsequentpublication,Sternusestheterm‘vitalitycontours’torefertothemannerinwhichan
actisperformedandthefeelingthatdirectsit.Sternsuggestsaglobalunitofsocialunderstandingthat
isbasedonanappreciationofthetemporalcontouringandunfoldingofexperience.Thistemporal
unfoldingoccursinseveraldomainssimultaneously.
Therearetheexternal,objectifiablemovementsandsounds,suchasheadturning,pointing,and facial and vocal expressions, that form and decompose. Synchronous with thesebehaviouraleventsthereareinternalsubjectiveeventsconsisting,amongotherthings,ofthecontinual, instant-by-instant shifts in feelingstate, resulting inanarrayof temporal feelingflowpatternsthatwewillcallvitalitycontours.(Stern,1999,p.67)
Anyshiftintheflowpatternofastimuluselicitsacorrespondingperceivableshiftinarousal,activation,
and hedonic tone and subjectively integrated into temporally contoured feelings. These vitality
contoursareconcernedwiththe“how”ratherthanthe“what”offeltexperiences,theydisregardthe
content (emotions, thoughtsoractions),butareconstitutedthroughfeelingflowpatternsthatare
bestcapturedbydynamickineticterms,suchassurging,fading-away,fleeting,explosive,tentative,
effortful,accelerating,decelerating,climaxing,bursting,anddrawnout(Stern,1999,p.68).
Sternassertsthatvitalitycontoursunderlietheappreciationofmostartformsthataretime-basedand
formally devoidof ‘content’, such asmostmusic anddance: “dance reveals to the viewer-listener
multiplevitalityaffectsandtheirvariations,withoutresortingtoplotorcategoricalaffectsignalsfrom
whichthevitalityaffectscanbederived.Thechoreographerismostoftentryingtoexpressawayof
feeling,notaspecificcontentoffeeling”(Stern,1985,p.56).
396See11.2.2.2.b.
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In a 2010 monograph, Stern further specifies ‘forms of vitality’ into five dynamic events, the
fundamentaldynamicpentad,whichgiverisetotheexperienceofvitality:movementistheprimary
element and implies the ensuing elements of force, time, space, and intention/directionality/end-
pointdirectedness.
Thereisatemporalcontourortimeprofileofthemovementasitbegins,flowsthrough,andends.[…]Movementalsobringswith ittheperceptionorattributionofforce(s) ‘behind’or‘within’themovement.Inaddition,movementhastohappeninspace[…]Finally,amovementhas directionality. It seems to be going somewhere. A sense of intentionality is inevitablyadded.Inasenseforce,time,space,anddirectionalitycouldbecalledthefourdaughtersofmovement.[…]Thesefivetheoreticallydifferentevents–movement,time,force,space,andintention/directionality–takentogethergiverisetheexperienceofvitality.[…]ThisnaturalGestaltgivesrisetotheexperienceofvitalityinone’sownmovementsandinthoseofothers.(Stern,2010,pp.4–5)
ForStern,vitalityisaGestaltthatresistsanalysisintermsofeachseparateelement;itisimmediately
graspedfromthisfundamentaldynamicpentad.
For the developmental aspect of vitality, Stern leans heavily on a framework introduced by
developmental psychologist Heinz Werner which implies that wherever development occurs it
proceeds from a state of relative globality and lack of differentiation to a state of increasing
differentiation, articulation, and hierarchic integration which allows for more flexible behaviour
(Werner,1940/1957,p.55).Fromthispointofview,itcanbeinferredthattemporalartssuchasmusic
anddancehavea specificdevelopmental role indifferentiatingandextending the communicative,
affectiverepertoireofhumans.397
13.2.6 IU6:Embodiedsemantics–linguistics&philosophy
InMetaphorsWeLiveBy(Lakoff&Johnson,1980),LakoffandJohnsonconsideredmetaphortobea
fundamentalbutoftenunnoticedmechanismofmind,onethatallowsusingwhatweknowaboutour
physicalandsocialexperiencetoprovideunderstandingofcountlessothersubjects.Inensuingstudies
Johnsonobservesthatvirtuallyallofourconceptualizationanddescriptionofmusicusesmetaphors
whose source domains are drawn from sensorimotor experience (Johnson, 2007, p. 243) and
advocatesatheoryofembodiedsemanticswithregardtomusicalmeaning.398
Withinsuchaframework,meaningisnotaspontaneousconstructionofanautonomousmindandnot
limitedtotheframingofconceptsandtheircombinationintopropositions;instead,meaningistobe
situatedwithinaflowofexperiencethatcannotexistwithoutabiologicalorganismengagingwithits
397TheprocessissimilartotheonesuggestedbylinguistAllisonWrayandMitheninrelationtoevolutionarylanguagedevelopment(Mithen,2005,pp.3–4).398 Johnson’s insightsare strongly informedbyMerleau-Ponty’sviewswith regard to the roleof thebody inconstitutingmeaning(Johnson,2006).
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environment.Meaningemergesthroughincreasinglycomplexlevelsoforganicactivity,andthe‘top-
down’ structure that shapes and constrainswhat canbemeaningful andhow it ismeaningful are
originallybuildupon‘bottom-up’andbody-environmentrelatedprocesses(Johnson,2006,p.7).
Johnsongrantsgesturesapivotalroleintheenactmentofmeaningandcomes–viaalinkagetoStern’s
vitalityaffects(Johnson,2006,p.10)–toanunderstandingofmusic’sfunctionasapresentationand
enactmentoffeltexperience.Musicalmeaningisprimarilyembodiedmeaningandhasonlylimited
representational value. Moreover, this type of meaning based on images, affect contours and
metaphorsgoesfarbeyondconceptualandpropositionalcontent.Ourhumancapacitiesfordiscerning
meaning operate pervasively in all our experience, artistic and non-artistic alike, but in art those
capacities operate in an exemplary fashion by exploring how experience can be significant and
meaningful(Johnson,2007,p.262).
13.2.7 IU7:Topictheory–musicology
InClassicMusic(Ratner,1980),musicologistLeonardRatner(1916-2011)developsthefieldof‘topical
analysis’tofindanaccountforthestylisticpluralitythatissoeminentlypresentinthemusicofthe
eighteenthcentury.WhereasthevariousentitiesinBaroquecompositions(dances,movements)are
ideally characterized by one single affect (Mattheson, 1739) supported by dedicated figures, 18th
century Classicalmusic allows for the possibility of an individualmovement to combine disparate
materials,leadingtoadifferentiationandcontrastofstyles–theriseofoperacanbelinkedtothe
emergenceofdramaticandcontextualturnsinoneopus.Thesematerialsandtheirdefiningmusical
componentsare typicallygrounded inanoriginal, functionalcontext (dances,ceremonies, religion)
andthenrelocatedinanewcompositionwhereforinstance“akeyboardinstrumentcanplayahorn
callorastringquartetcanevokesacredpolyphony”(Sutcliffe,2014,p.118).Theprocessofimporting
musicfromelsewhereintoanewcompositionalcontext isthemostcharacteristicaspectoftopical
discourse.
Musicaltopicsaregeneraltypes,capableofbeingrepresentedbyparticulartokens.Thereisacommon resistance among musicians to ideas of generalized meaning. According to thepopular view, eachmusical piece, eachmelody and figure, is essentially unique. (Monelle,2000,p.15)Topicsarecharacteristicfigures,dances,marches,genres,textures,orevenentirestylesthatare imported,alongwith theirgeneralexpressivecorrelations, intoa largerwork, inwhichtheyarethencontextuallyinterpreted,oftenaspartofthedramatictrajectory,orwhatIcallexpressivegenre,ofthatwork.(Hatten,2010,pp.51–52)
Topictheorydevelopsathesaurusofcharacteristicfigures(Ratner,1980,p.9)andsuggestsaworld
with enlarged musical horizons where music can be found everywhere in a society and readily
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transferred from one place to another; it also allows for overturning hierarchies that may exist
betweentypesofmusicandtheiroriginalfunctionalcontexts.
In Fig. 13.2,musicologist Kofi Agawu’s list of common topics for ClassicMusic is presented as an
orientationtotheworldsofaffect,style,andtechniquethattheysetinmotion(Agawu,2009,pp.43–
44).399
Figure13.2.AUniverseofTopicforClassicMusic(afterAgawu,2009,pp.43–44).
13.3 Recontextualisationwithinthecontextofperformativeanalysis
TheIUspresentedaboveoriginateinavarietyofdisciplinesandintra-disciplinaryorientations.Froma
pragmaticperspective,thismixtureofepistemicbackgroundsshouldnotinhibitthe‘jumpingtogether’
ofinformationalelements.Asproposedin10.3,thetypeofconsiliencethatisadvocatedinBCiPPis
notconcernedwithtruthfullyexplainingphenomena,butpragmaticallyinvigoratingandfreeingthe
personaltheoriesandbeliefsthatserveasabackgroundtoartisticaction.
Introducing the IUs presented above into the field of a bio-culturally informed performative and
interaction-orientedanalysispotentiallyimpactsonatleastfourdomains:1/thestreamsofmusical
interaction;2/theintentionalfociofperformance;3/musicandvitality;and4/bio-topicsasunitsof
performativeanalysis.
399Ratner’soriginaltopicsarerepresentedinAppendix15.
1.Albertibass2.allabreve3.allazoppa4.allemande5.amorosostyle6.ariastyle7.arioso8.stilelegato9.bourrée10.brilliantstyle11.buffa style12.cadenza13.chaconnebass14.chorale15.commediadell’arte16.concertostyle17.contredanse18.ecclesiasticalstyle19.Empfindsamer style20.Empfindsamkeit21.fanfare
22.fantasiastyle23.Frenchoverturestyle24.fugalstyle25.fugato26.galantstyle27.gavotte28.gigue29.highstyle30.horncall31.hunt style32.hunting fanfare33.Italianstyle34.Landler35.learnedstyle36.Lebewohl37.lowstyle38.march39.middle style40.militaryfigures41.minuet42.murkybass
43.musette44.ombrastyle45.passepied46.pastorale47.patheticstyle48.polonaise49.popular style50.recitative(simple,accompanied,obligé)51.romanza52.sarabande53.siciliano54.singingallegro55.singingstyle56.strictstyle57.SturmundDrang58.tragicstyle59.trommelbass60.Turkishmusic61.waltz
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13.3.1 Threestreamsofmusicalinteraction
Althoughthemultiple-streamhypothesis[IU1]isanextremereductionofthemusicalphenomenon
by explaining it in terms of a gestural, a groovy, and an architectonic stream, it largely confirms
essentialaspects thatcanbe inferred fromtheattractormodelaspresented inChapter11:1/ the
gestural stream can be related to melodic and motivic contour and, as such, conforms to the
behavioural instruments that are put to work in affect regulation/attunement, expression and
mimesis;2/thegroovestreamisananalogueoftheconceptofentrainment;and3/thestreamthat
accounts for the architectonics in music can well be linked to proto-narrative aspects in affect
regulationandthemacro-structuralaspectsofdiegesis.
The hypothesis of three streams can also be related to contemporary, state of the art analytical
approachesthataimataccountingforexpressiveperformativemicro-timing.Withaviewtoformulate
adequaterulesinordertocomputationallyprogramthesemicro-structuraldeviationsandadaptions,
musicalperformanceresearchersAndersFribergandEricaBisesi lookat localevents thatattracta
listener’sattention.These loci,called“accents”,areeitherevidentfromthescore(“immanent”)or
added by the performer (“performed”). They do not only include dynamic accents, but are also
associatedwithgrouping,meter,melody(peaksand leaps),harmony,andtimbre (Friberg&Bisesi,
2014,p.241).Friberg&Bisesiarriveatformulatingfourfundamentalaccentsthatcanthenbefurther
linkedtoexpressiverulesofperformance(Friberg&Bisesi,2014,p.243):
• Amelodicaccentoccursatlocalpeaksandvalleysofthemelody.400• Ametricalaccentoccursatthestartofimportantmetricalunitssuchasthestartofameasure.• Aharmonicaccentoccursatchordchanges.• Aphrasing(orgrouping)accentoccursatthestartofaphraseatanyhierarchicallevel.
Next,theauthorsadda‘salience-factor’toeachoftheaccents,basedonspecificcontextsinwhich
theyoccurtocometoanalysessuchastheonepresentedinFig.13.3withregardtoChopin’sBerceuse.
400Toidentifythemelodicaccents,firstthehighestandlowesttonesofthewholemelodyarelabelled,followedbyanindicationoflocalpeaksandvalleys.Theauthorsindicateherethat,basedontheirobservations,peaksaremoresalientintermsofmicro-expressivitythanvalleys.
361
Figure13.3.AnalysisofimmanentaccentsinChopin’sBerceuse,
Op.57inDflatmajor,bars1–19(Friberg&Bisesi,2014,p.251).401
Directlinkstothethree-streamhypothesisandtheattractor-modelcanbeinferredfromthisanalytical
andaccent-orientedmodeofanalysis:themelodicaccentsrefertothegesturalstreamandtheways
inwhich themelodic contour develops; themetrical accents relate to the groove-stream and the
presenceofpulse;andtheharmonicaccentsimplyanarchitecturalstreambasedonthesuccession
andshiftingofharmonies.Thegroupingaccentisanewelementandisintrinsicallylinkedtothelimits
ofperceptionandtheneedtoimposeorderinasoundscape.Itisafactorthatisnotdiscussedinthe
401PermissiontouseandrepresentthismaterialinthecontextofthisdissertationwasgrantedbybothauthorsonJuly28th2017andbyOxfordUniversityPressonAugust7th2017;onwardreuseofthiscontentisprohibitedwithoutpermissionofOUP.Anaudioexampleoftheprogrammedrenditionisavailableathttp://fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/booksites/uk/booksites/content/9780199659647/Ch14.2f_Chopin-op57-total.mp3.
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context of this chapter, but insightswith regard to ‘chunking’402 (cognitive psychology) and direct
perceptionviavariantsandinvariants(ecologicalpsychology)couldcertainlyanadditionalelementto
bestudiedfromaninteractionalperspective.403
OneoftheconclusionsoftheFriberg&Bisesistudyisthat:“theBachpiecewithitsregularcharacter
isperformedwithpronouncedmetricalaccentsandwithsmallerphrasing,whereasthemorecantabile
Chopinpieceisperformedwithoutmetricalaccentsandwithratherlargephrasing”(Friberg&Bisesi,
2014,p.256).By this, theauthors implicitly confirmthemacro-historical impactofa three-stream
hypothesisasformulatedinIU1:thethreestreamscanbetracedacrossgenresandculturesandvary
intheirdegreeofrepresentation.
Inour search forelements thatcouldbepartofabio-culturally informedand interaction-oriented
performativeanalysis, the threestreamsseemtoqualifyasabasicmodel formodellinga score in
termsofinteractiveaffordances.
13.3.2 Fourfocalelementsofperformance:monadic,dyadic,triadic,quadratic
Abrams’fourpoeticorientations–mimetic,pragmatic,expressiveandobjective–originateinliterary
theory,butcantheyalsoberelatedtotheattractor-frameworkrelatedtointeractionandbasedon
modesof interaction inmusicking? InChapter11, itwas indicatedhow themother-infant relation
developsfromadyadicrelationbasedonaffectregulation,attunement,entrainmentandexpression
intoatriadicrelationwhere,firstviathemechanismofjoinedattentionandlaterbymeansofmimesis
anddiegesis, a relation is forged betweenmother (father), infant, a perceivable environment and
eventuallyanextended,imaginaryenvironment.InformedbyAbramsinsightsinIU2andtakingthe
perspectiveoftheperformeras‘caregiver’404inacontextofcommunicativemusicality,itispossible
to reframe these categories and link them to an expressive, pragmatic, objective and mimetic
orientation.
Startingwiththemodeofinteractionrelatedtotheexpressionofaffects,itcanbearguedthatthis
categorycomesclosetotheexpressiveorientationidentifiedbyAbramsasapoeticsthatexpresses
thepersonalfeelingsandideasofanartist(self-expression).Thesituationinscore-basedperformance
iscomplexduetotheinvolvementoftwocreativeactors,thecomposerandtheperformer.However,
for the sake of the argument and to avoid the complexity of double creation, a situation can be
402Theprocessoforganizinginformationintoameaningful,coherentandintegratedwhole(Miller1956).403 Elements of perception are included in the attractormodel but as forming the link between action andinteraction.Becauseofthismediatingroletheyarenotincludedinthisinteraction-focusedchapter.404 Thepositionof themusicianas caregivermay seemodd,howeverDescartes’ insightswith regard to thetherapeuticeffectofmusicinLespassionsdel'âme(1649)ormorerecentadvancesinthefieldofmusic-therapycorroboratesuchaposition.
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imaginedinwhichtheperformerintendstoactasanembodiedmediumwiththeintentionalaimto
betheneutralvehicle,anexecutantortranslator(Stravinsky,1947,pp.123-124)throughwhichthe
affectivelifeofthecomposershinesthrough.Suchatotalidentificationwiththefeelingsandideasof
thecomposerresonateswithC.P.E.Bach’sdictum:“thekeyboardplayerhimselfhastosensethesame
passionsastheonestheauthorfeltwhencomposinganewpiece”[CPEBachVersuchI,3§13]405,but
comesalsoclosetothewayinwhichitisperceivedinpopularmusic:thecomposerortext-writeris
completelyforgottenwhenapop-singerperformsasong,thereisonlythepresenceoftheperformer
(seealsoPerAageBrandt’sanalysisin13.3.2).
Takingtheseconsiderationsintoaccount,itcanbearguedthataperformativestancethatfocuseson
self-expressionismonadic,meaningthattheprincipalfocusoftheperformer/composer isdirected
inward and that the interactive and dyadic component with the audience is considered to be an
epiphenomenonbeyondher/hiscontrolandinterest.Amonadicstancerelatestoaffectexpression;
theperformerembodiesthemusicas(s)heisexpressingher/hisownstateofmind(scriptedbyatext),
without an intentional and primary focus on the effect that it generates on the audience. This
performativestance isstronglyrelatedtothenotionofEmpfindsamkeit–“AusderSeelemußman
spielen,undnichtwieeinabgerichteterVogel”[C.P.E.Bach,Versuch,TeilI,H3‘VomVortrage’,§7],the
romanticcategoriesoffeelingandgenius,andtothepsycho-analyticalinfluenceonthinkingaboutart:
musicfulfilstheneedofexpressingdeep,uniqueandhiddenfeelingsofatalented,sensitivemusician;
theaudienceisgrantedtheprivilegeofwitnessingthisrevelationbutthatisnottheleadingconcern
oftheartist.
Ifself-expressionrelatesarchetypicallytoamonadicperformativestance,thenthecategoriesofaffect
regulation,attunementandentrainmentcanbeconnectedtoadyadicstance,toAbrams’pragmatic
orientation, to a rhetorical position and to thehistorical frameworkof aWirkungsästhetik. Sucha
stanceisnotself-buteffect-oriented;thegoalofmusickingistocreateasonicenvironmentthatelicits
aparticulareffectintermsofaffect,mood,emotionorfeelinginthelistener.Affectregulationbuilds
onprinciplesofactionand reactionandon theartofattentionmodulationwhileattunementand
entrainment rely on principles of transaction and the sharing of vitality contours. In the case of
attunement,melodic contouringwill be themain instrument; in the caseofentrainment rhythmic
pulsecouplingwillbeacentralconcern;inattentionandmoodregulation,suddenaccentsandsilences
ordescendingandascendinglineswillbetheprimarymusicaltools.Thedyadicstancecanalsoinvolve
405Er[derClavieriste]mußdieselbeLeidenschaftenbeysichempfinden,welchederUrheberdesfremdenStückesbeydessenVerfertigunghatte.BesondersaberkanderClavieristevorzüglichaufallerleyArtsichderGemütherseinerZuhörerdurchFantasienausdemKopfebemeistern.http://www.koelnklavier.de/quellen/versuch/kap1-3.htmlconsultedNovember2016.
364
proto-narrativeelementssuchasintroduction,repetition,variation,development,climax,resolution
(Malloch&Trevarthen,2009b,p.2).
Buildingontheforegoinglogicofperformativestancesandfoci,itisalsopossibletoimagineatriadic
stance (audience-performer-work) and relate it to situations of joint attention and to Abrams’
objectiveorientation.Atriadicperspectivefocusesonthepresenceofanartworkandonitsformal
structure. Via the mechanism of joint attention and shared intentionality, the focus is on the
composition’s immanent structure and on finding, revealing and sharing elements of interactive
interest. A performer’s role in a triadic context does not need to be limited to being a guide, the
performer co-experiences this composed environment and can also express primary and affective
reactions inrelationtothatenvironment. Insuchasituation,the listener,confrontedwitha (new)
sonicandcomposedenvironment,lookstotheperformerforguidancetodetermineandtoseewhat
anappropriatereactionwouldbe.(S)heispotentiallycontaminatedviaamechanismofempathy:a
performerprojectingenjoymentorseriousnesswhileplaying,willinfluencethereactionofthelistener
accordingly.Inthislastcase,themonadicandtriadicstanceappearasanintegratedwhole.
Finally,thetriadicstancecanbefurtherextendedtoaquadraticperspectiveinthecaseofmimesis
anddiegesis:aquadratic-mimeticstancefocusesontherelationbetweentheaudience,theperformer,
thescoreandtheelementsofthe‘universe’thatarepresentedbymimesis.Biologicalcomponents
canbeinvolvedinmimesissuchasflora,fauna,events,persona,affects,habitats,naturalphenomena
butalsoculturalmemessuchasdances,genres,well-knowntunes.Whentheperformermimetically
imagines and presents a persona, this will include elements of affective expression leading to a
nuanceddifferentiationbetweenamonadicandquadratic-mimetic imagination.Inthecontextofa
monadicstanceandimagination,itistheexpressionoftheperformerthatisgrantedacentralrole;in
aquadratic-mimeticcontexttheexpressionoffeelingrelatestoanimaginedorganism.Theexpression
isachievedviagestures(cfr.13.2.4,Kivy’scontourtheory)orintermsofvitalitycontours(cfr.13.2.5).
Aquadratic-diegetictriadicstanceisconcernedwiththerelationbetweentheaudience,theperformer
andasuccessionofeventswhicharere-presentedbyanarrative.Sinceinstrumentalmusicgenerally
doesnot representconcreteelements– ithasa free-floating intentionality– thediegetic factor in
musicrelatestothemodesofoperationandthetemporaldevelopmentthatarerelatedtostory-telling
(Meelberg,2006,pp.39–40).Inconclusionofhisstudyonnarrativityincontemporarymusic,Meelberg
relatesnarrativeanalysistoarticulatingthewayshumansubjectsmaybeabletocomprehendunique
phenomenasuchasamusicalcompositionorimprovisation,andtounderstand“theobserver’surge
to integrate the artwork’s elements into a graspable whole”; moreover, he concludes that “the
narrativizationofcontemporarymusicleadstoaconstructionthatisfabricatedbythelistener,and
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nottotheexposureofthetrueessenceofthemusic(whateverthatmaybe)”(Meelberg,2006,219).
Bysuggestingaquadratic-diegeticstancetheperformerbridgesthevoidbetweentheidiosyncracyof
themusicalworkandtheinbuilturgeofthelistenertomakeandtoexperiencestories;(s)hefacilitates
thegraspofunitybyassumingtheroleofastory-teller–includingthevitality-statesthatareattached
tothatrole.
Theroleoftheperformeriscomplexinitsrelationtothecomposer,thecomposedwork,theaudience,
and the sonic environment that (s)he is causing and simultaneously experiencing. The foci of
performanceproposedhereonlymakesenseinacontextwhereaperformer’spresenceisconsidered
tobetheprimepointofreferenceinamusicalinteractionwithanaudience(seealsoFig.13.3andFig.
13.4).Aperformercanembody, simultaneouslycauseandexperience (doandundergo)a scripted
sonicenvironmentasapersona,asastoryteller,anactor,viadyadicregulationorviaaction-metaphor
orisaco-listenertoacomposedenvironmentandactsasaguideviajointattentionorasareactive
observer.Fromaneverydayinteractionperspective,itiscommontocombineortoswitchbetween
thesefoci:intellingastory,forinstance,personalfeelingsconnectedtothestorywillshinethrough
whileattentionwillbepaidtothelistener’sresponsesandcertainelementsofthestorywillbeenacted
gesturally. However, dogmatic points of view that foreground one option from this world of
possibilities arenotuncommon inmusical discourse: “aperformer is the servantof the score”, “a
performer is a guide”, “the performer is an actor”, “the performer is an orator”. The foregoing
approachintermsoffociofperformanceoffersaframeworkinwhichthesedogmaticpositionscan
becounteredanddifferentiated ina systematicwayandwhereonecannavigateandassess focal
optionsinfunctionoftheconcretesituation(score,audience,space)andtheinteractiveaffordances
thatitholds.Allfourcategoriesequatetopotentiallyplausibleperformativeapproaches.Thefociof
performancearethusnotatoolforestablishinga‘best’approachbut,onthecontrary,ameansof
underliningthemultiplicityoffocithataperformer’sperformativerolecantake.
Wecansummarizethatthefourfociofperformanceallowaperformertoreflectonhowtocombine
ortonavigateperformativestancesbyfocusingon:1/self-expression;2/theeffectoftheperformance
ontheaudience;3/ the immanentelementsof thecomposition;and4/thesuggestionbydiegesis
and/ormimesisofenvironmentsthatarenotactuallypresentintheperformancespace.Sincethese
fociseldomappearinisolationitisappropriatetorefertothemasfourfocalelementsofperformance
thatcanbefreelycombinedandanalysedinfunctionofcaptivatingmusicalinteraction.
AswillbeshownmoreconcretelywithChopin’sMazurka(see13.5),thesefociarenoconsequence-
free intentionally imagined perspectives. A qualitative performative difference can be noticed
betweenexpressingone’sownfeelings/moods(monadic), inducingthem(dyadic),sharingthemon
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thebasisofelements in thedirect sonicenvironment (triadic),or (re)presenting them (quadratic);
choosing oneof these options has perceivable consequences on performative parameters such as
micro-timing,articulation,dynamics,andtempo.
13.3.3 Musicandvitality
IUs3to5(see13.2.3-5)relatetotheideaofmusicastheexpression/presentationofaffects,emotions,
moods,andfeelings406andhaspotentialrepercussionsonhowtoassessandanalysepiecesofmusic.
Asstatedbefore,musicalanalysisisafieldofstudythathasconcerneditselfprimarilywiththemusical
scoreandwithstructuralelementspresentwithinacomposition.Suchascore-orientedattitudecan
betracedbacktotheriseofempiricisminthe18thcentury(Weber,1994)butalsotoastrivingfor
musicalautonomyinthemiddleofthe19thcentury.InVommusikalischSchönen(1854),theViennese
musiccriticEduardHanslick(1825-1904)claimedthatmusicexpressesmusicalideasandthat“tönend
bewegte Formen" (Hanslick, 1854, p. 32) are the content ofmusic and that the idea ofmusic as
describingandexpressingemotionsisathreattomusic'sautonomy.
Langer,KivyandSternpositionaffect-relatednotionssuchasfeeling,emotion,andmoodbackinthe
verycentreofmusicaldiscourse.Asapointofdeparture for their theories theyrevisit themusical
insights thatpre-date the formal turn inmusic and refermore inparticular to theDoctrineof the
Affections (German,Affektenlehre)which relates primarily toBaroquemusic andwhichholds that
music should express idealized emotional states and have listeners feel these states. In Der
vollkommene Capellmeister (1739) all-roundmusician and theorist JohannMattheson (1681-1764)
describessome30affectsbutconcretemusicalmeanstorepresentthemareonlysuggestedforafew.
Forinstance,largeintervalstorepresentjoy,smallintervalstorepresentsadness,ascendingmotion
forpridebutdescendingmotionforhumility,anddisorderedsequencesofnotesfordespair(Bartel,
1997). During the baroque, composers generally sought to express only a single, idealized and
universal affect per composition. In the course of the 18th century, however, the need to have
personally experienced the affection is increasingly emphasized to the point that, at the dawn of
Empfindsamkeit (English, sensitivity), experience rather than rational knowledge of the affection
becameaprimeelementinmusicalcreation.Duringthelatterhalfofthe18thcenturyandinstigated
bymusicianssuchasJohannJoachimQuantz(1697-1773)andCarlPhilippEmanuelBach(1714-1788),
theDoctrine of the Affections was eventually abandoned in favour of an Empfindsame Stil which
implied the possibility and freedom to use whatever means fantasy and intuition may suggest
406See11.3.2.2 for theessentialdistinctionsbetweenthe terms: ‘affect’ isusedasacluster-term; ‘emotion’refers toa relativelybriefepisodeofdispositional changesoraction tendencies; ‘feelings’are thesubjectiverepresentationofemotions;‘mood’isof lowerintensitythanemotionbutlongerinduration;‘temperament’referstoparticularinherent/inbornaffectivestyles.
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expressing subjective feelings inmusic. It is within this context that C.P.E. Bach formulates in his
VersuchüberdiewahreArtdasClavier zu spielen (1753)a crucial insight inhowtheexpressionof
feelingsviaacompositionrelatestotheperformer:
Amusiciancannotmoveothersunlesshehimselfismoved.Thushemustofnecessitybeabletoimmersehimselfinalltheaffectshewishestoarouseinhislisteners;hemustcommunicatehisfeelingstotheminsuchawayasbesttomovethemtoempathy.Inlanguidandsorrowfulpassageshemustappearlanguidandsorrowful.Onemustseeandhearitinhim.Thereverseistruewithpassionate,cheerful,andotherkindsofideas,whenheimmerseshimselfintheseaffects.Nosoonerisapassionstilledthananotherisexcited,andthushepassesconstantlyfromonetoanother.Thisisespeciallythecaseinpiecesthatarehighlyexpressive,betheyconceivedbytheperformerhimselforbysomebodyelse;inthelatter,theperformermustfeelthesamepassionwithinhimselfthattheauthorofthepieceintendedatitscomposition.[C.P.E.Bach,Versuch,TeilI,H3:‘VomVortrage’,§13](Bach,C.P.E.,1753,p.123;Fubini,1994,p.294)
With this remark, C.P.E. Bach provides a link between the generic understandings with regard to
musical expression (as indicated by Langer, Kivy and Stern, see 13.2.3-5), embodiment [IU6] and
performativeanalysis:ifmusicexpressesaffects(emotion,feelings,moods)andtheseaffectsneedto
beembodiedbyaperformer,thentheyshouldalsobeamenabletoperformativeanalysis.
Linguist and semiotician Per Aage Brandt (Brandt, 2009, p. 35) plots the relations onto amusical
contextviaasemioticschema407(seeFig.13.4).
Figure13.4.Semioticrelationsinamusicalcontext(Brandt,2009,p.35).
407Brandtusesthesemiotictermsicon,symbolandindextorefertotherelationbetweensound,gesture,stateofmindandfeelingofpresence.Itisnotnecessarytoelaborateonthespecificsemanticsoftheterms.Itsufficestobeaware that:1/ ‘icons’are signs thathavea resemblance to theirobject (photos,painting);2/ ‘indices’alwayspoint,reference,orsuggestsomethingelse(smokeisanindexoffire);and3/asymbolicsignisassignedarbitrarilyorisacceptedassocietalconvention;therefore,therelationshipbetweenthesymbolanditsobjectneedtobelearned.
Musicplayed
Gesture
Stateofmind
Feelingofpresence
Auditive
Styleofgesture
Mind
icon
symbol
index
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AccordingtoBrandt,inmusic,therhythmicandmelodiccontoursthatcanbeheardsuggestabody
making analogue gestures. Here, the auditive form structurally resembles and signifies the bodily
gesture,evenifthemovementisnotactuallyshown,butonlyplayedandheardinmusicalsound.The
ideaofbodilygesturinginsoundinturnsignifiesapersoninacorrespondingstateofmindandemotive
movement. Since this affective meaning related to a particular state of mind occurs at the very
momentofhearingthemusic,itwillultimatelyyieldtothosewhoareasharingthemusicalexperience
afeelingofthepresenceofthatmusician.Ultimately,musiccommunicates(embodied)statesofmind
(Juslin,2013b,p.1).
Stern’snotionof‘vitality’(see13.2.5)isonethatiscurrentlynotembeddedinmusicaldiscoursebut
comesclosethenotionof‘statesofmind’and,inourview,holdsthepotentialtobypassthecomplex
anddifferentialsemanticsthatareattachedtoemotion,affect,feelingandmood.Asanelementthat
can be intersubjectively shared, vitality strongly resonates with inspired action and the essential
requirement of music as ‘happening’ without being specific on the content of what exactly is
happening.Assuch,vitalityreferstodifferentstatesofmindaswellintermsofitsimmanentstructure
aswellasinthewaysinwhichstatesofmindleadtobehaviour.Moreover,andatleastaccordingto
Langer,KivyandStern[seeIUs3to5inthischapter],thesestatesofvitality–beitinstructure,gesture
orcontour–constitutetheessenceofmusicalmeaningasthesharingofstatesanddevelopmentsof
vitality.
If‘vitality’isintroducedtotheattractor-frameworkpresentedinChapter11,wecanfurtherobserve
that, although affect and emotion are only explicitly present in two of the sub-attractors of
‘interaction’ (‘affect regulation’ and ‘expression’), states of vitality are a necessary and grounding
element in all sub-attractors.Mimesis and the use of actionmetaphor inmusic requires either a
representationofthevitalqualitiespresentinalivingorganismoranevent,orofthevitalexperience
thatisinvolvedinundergoing,observingandexploringenvironmentsthatareofastaticnature.The
same necessary implication applies to the elements of entrainment, joined attention and diegesis
whichareallactivitiesthatallinvolveaparticularstateof(embodied)mindorofvitality.
Relatingtheseperspectivestoaninterestindevelopingabio-culturallyinformedtoolforperformative
analysis,basedontheprocessofinteraction,wecanconsiderstatesofvitalityasapivotalandcentral
entity. As alreadypointedout in 13.1, the field of analysis traditionally focuses on four objects of
enquiry:1/thescoreasdescriptive,prescriptiveandexpressivesymbolofasonicenvironment;2/the
soundofmusicasphysicalentity thatcanbestudied intermsofexpressivemicrostructure;3/the
listener’sexperience;and4/themovements,bodiesandgesturesofmusiciansthataccountforthe
visualaspectofperformance.ExtendingBrandt’sschema(Fig.13.4)tocomposedmusicwecansee
howtheseelementsrelatetoeachotherandcanbeanalysedintermsofthescore,theauditivesignal,
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themusicalgesturesand the listener’sexperience (seeFig.13.5).What ismissing fromthis list isa
systematicanalyticalinterestinstatesofmindorstatesofvitalityoftheperformer.Suchananalytical
perspectivewouldopenanew,alternativeandphenomenology-orientedperspective.
Figure13.5.Elementsofanalysis:score,sound,gesture,listener’sexperienceandstatesofvitality.
EducationalpsychologistRolandPerssonhasreportedonperformers’self-inductiontoalteredstates
ofawarenessandhowmusiciansveryconsciouslymanipulatedrecallofcertainmemoriesinorderto
‘get into the mood’ (Persson, 2001, pp. 281–283). These induction strategies seem to be mostly
developing intuitivelyasaresultofemotion-evokingstructures inherent inthemusic.Perssonalso
notesthatperformanceteachersneverdiscusssuchinductionproceduresduringlessons,whichmakes
itfeasibletoproposethatmasteringthemismainlyapersonalandintuitivematter.
Suchanintuition-basedstateofaffairscreatesopportunitiesforfurtherreflectingonthedevelopment
ofanexperience-based,systematicandinteraction-orientedtoolforperformativeanalysis.
13.3.4 Auniverseofbio-topicsasunitsofanalysis
Theframeworkprovidedbytopicalanalysis[IU7]hastwoinherentlimitations.Firstly,itisrestricted
tomusicofthe18thcenturyandsecondly,thetopicsthatarebeingselectedareintrinsicallycultural:
theiroriginsaretobesituatedinothercompositions.Fromtheperspectiveofbio-culturallyinformed
performativeanalysis thequestionarises if thesecultural topicsareamenable tobeconsideredas
particularisationsofmorefundamentalanduniversaldispositionsandifthemodelofanalysiscould
serveasatemplateforwhatcouldbecalledabio-topicalanalysis;ananalysisthatisnotintendedto
locateculturaltopicsinascore,butratherbio-topicsorunitsofaperformer’sexperienceandvitality
whileplayingapiece.
A lookatthecharacterisingdescriptionsthatareprovidedbyRatner(seeAppendix15)showsthat
eachcultural topic isexpressedbyoneoracombinationofvitalitystatesorcontours: thetopicof
Musicplayed
Gesture
StatesofVitality
Feelingofpresence
Auditive
Styleofgesture
Mind
icon
symbol
index
score
Descriptive symbol
Prescriptive symbol
Expressivesymbol
Listener’sexperience
370
minuetforinstanceisrelatedtothevitalitystates‘elegant’,‘noble’,‘charming’,‘lively’;thetopicof
polonaiseimpliesthequalities‘serious’and‘deliberate’.
Performersdonotnecessarilyneed to relyC.P.E.Bach’sadvisewith regard to theembodimentof
affecttorealisethatwhileplayingapieceofmusic,thesoundandmicro-structuresthatareproduced
areanticipatedby,andembeddedinadynamicalflowofenergiesandvitalities.Whenthiselementis
lacking, the performance will often be dull, non-stimulating and with only little interactional
affordance.
Duringtheacademicyear2016-2017,auniverseoffrequentlyencounteredbio-topicswasassembled
whileplayinganddiscussingavarietyofrepertoirewithpiano-studentsoftheStedelijkConservatorium
Brugge[Belgium];thecompositionsincludeearlystagepiecesandmoreelaboratecompositionsfrom
thecanonicalrepertoire.InFig.13.6,thesebio-topicsarelistedandinFig.13.7theyaretopologically
linkedtothesixmodesofinteractionpresentintheattractor-model(see11.3.2.2).
Thedialoguebetweenhands-onexperienceandthetheoreticalreference-frameworkconcerningthe
modesofinteraction,turnedouttobeasourceofinspirationingeneratingsuchbio-topics.Reflecting
onbio-topicalelementsofdiegesis fromanabstractperspective, for instance, ledtothetop-down
formulationofbio-topicssuchas‘asenseofbeginning’and‘asenseofending’,statesofvitalitythat
wouldprobablyhavestayedhiddeninunconsciousintuitionwithoutthesystematicroadmaprelated
tothesixinteractionalmodes.
InNotesfromthePianist’sBench,Bermanclaimsthat“theperformer’screativityliesprincipallyinthe
areaofmusicalexpressioninfindingtherightfeeling[…]theperformer’sfreedomshouldneverbe
denied;rather,itmustbedefined”(Berman,2000,p.139).Theframeworkofbio-topicsdoesexactly
whatBermanproposes:itfocusesinananalyticalwayonperformativefeelingandsystemizesitviaa
universeofbio-topicsandthesixmodesofinteractiontowhichtheseembodiedstatesofvitalitycan
berelated.
371
Figure13.6.TheUniverseofBio-topic(aselection).
1. Asenseofbeginning
2. Asenseofending
3. Asenseofclosure
4. Asenseofquestioning
5. Asenseofstory-telling
6. Asenseoftime(flashback– flashforward)
7. Asenseofpause
8. Asenseofchange
9. Asenseofsurprise
10. Asenseofcontrast
11. Asenseofplot
12. Asenseofbecominganorganism,persona,event
13. Asenseofbeing inaparticularenvironment,
landscapeorhabitat
14. Asenseofseason(summer, winter, spring, fall)
15. Asenseoftimeofday(morning, noon, evening)
16. Asenseofspace(high, low,deep,close,faraway)
17. Asenseofharmony
18. Asenseoflight– dark– shadow
19. Asenseofmovement
20. Asenseofflow
21. Asenseofsuddenstop
22. Asenseofspeed(fast,slow,accelerating,slowing
down)
23. Asenseofascending/descending
24. Asenseoffluttering
25. Asenseofsilence/quietness
26. Asenseofsinging
27. Asenseofbreathing
28. Asenseofexpanding
29. Asenseofdialogue
30. Asenseoffloating
31. Asenseofbeingopen– closed
32. Asenseofbeingbig, small
33. Asenseofpower– weakness
34. Asenseoffullness– emptiness
35. Asenseofbeingstatic– dynamic
36. Asenseofobserving (environment, event,persona)
37. Asenseofrecognizing/remembering
38. Asenseoflistening
39. Asenseofnoticing ‘specialmoments’
40. Asenseofbeinggenerous,happy, sad,lively,angry,
tender
41. Asenseofexpectation,hope,ambition realisation,
disappointment
42. Asenseofelegance
43. Asenseofsimplicity
44. Asenseofenergy
45. Asenseofexcitement
46. Asenseoffeelingcomfortable
47. Asenseofinsecurity
48. Asenseofbeingcautious
49. Asenseofvulnerability
50. Asenseoffreedom– constraint
51. Asenseoftension
52. Asenseofliberation
53. Asenseofdaydreaming
54. Asenseofrelief
55. Asenseofwalking, running
56. Asenseofdancing
57. Asenseofvitalizing
58. Asenseofsoothing
59. Asenseofsharing
60. Asenseofcontouring
61. Asenseofgesturing
62. Asenseofsuspension
63. Asenseofaskingforattention
64. Asenseofvarying
65. Asenseofimprovising
66. Asenseofplayfulness
67. Asenseofvirtuosity
68. Asenseofsolidarity (homophony, homorythmy,
choral)
69. Asenseofbeingcapricious
70. Asenseofmeandering
372
Figure13.7.TheUniverseofBio-topicplottedintermsofthesixmodesofinteraction.
DIEGESISAsense ofbeginningAsense ofendingAsense ofclosureAsense ofquestioningAsense ofspeaking,narratingAsense ofpauseAsense oftimeAsense ofchangeAsense ofsurpriseAsense ofcontrastAsense ofplot
MIMESISAsense ofbecominganorganism,persona,event
Asense ofbeinginaparticularenvironment,landscapeorhabitat
Asense ofseason (summer,winter,spring,fall)Asense oftimeofday(morning,noon,evening)
Asense ofspace(high,low,deep,close,faraway)Asense ofharmony
Asense oflight–dark– shadowAsense ofmovement
Asense offlowAsense ofsuddenstop
Asense ofspeed (fast,slow,accelerating,slowingdown)
Asense ofascending/descendingAsense offluttering
Asense ofsilence/quietnessAsense ofsinging
Asense ofbreathingAsense ofexpandingAsense ofdialogueAsense offloating
Asense ofbeingopen– closedAsense ofbeingbig,small
Asense ofpower– weaknessAsense offullness– emptiness
Asense ofbeingstatic– dynamic
JOINTATTENTIONAsenseofobserving(environment,
event,persona)Asenseofrecognizing/remembering
AsenseoflisteningAsenseofnoticing ‘specialmoments’
SELF-EXPRESSIONAsenseofbeinggenerous,happy,sad,lively,angry,tenderAsenseofexpectation, hope,ambition, realisation, disappointmentAsenseofeleganceAsenseofsimplicityAsenseofenergyAsenseofexcitementAsenseoffeelingcomfortableAsenseofinsecurityAsenseofbeingcautiousAsenseoffreedom– constraintAsenseoftensionAsenseofliberationAsenseofrelief
ENTRAINMENTAsense ofwalking,running
Asense ofdancing
AFFECTREGULATIONandATTUNEMENT
Asenseofvitalizing/wakingupsb.
AsenseofsoothingAsenseofsharing
AsenseofcontouringAsenseofgesturingAsenseofsuspensionAsenseofaskingfor
attentionAsenseofvarying
AsenseofimprovisingAsenseofplayfulnessAsenseofvirtuosityAsenseofsolidarity
(homophony, homorythmy,choral)
AsenseofbeingcapriciousAsenseofmeandering
373
13.4 Reproduction:InteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysis
TheelementspresentedinSection13.2anddiscussedinSection13.3aresummarizedintermsoftheir
impact in Fig. 13.8 and assembledwithin the attractor-framework ofmusical interaction (see Fig.
11.10)inFig.13.9.
Figure13.8IUsimpactingonpracticalunderstandingsregardinginteractionandperformativeanalysis.
ThefirstthreecolumnsofFig.13.9containprimaryindicatorsofinteractionandallow,basedonthe
characteristicsofacomposition,foraninteractiveanalysisviaanexplorationoftheimmanentstreams
ofinteraction(three-streamhypothesis),thefocalelementsofperformance(monadic,dyadic,triadic,
quadrative) and the performative modes of interaction (self-expression, affect regulation &
attunement,entrainment,jointattention,affectiveresponse,mimesisanddiegesis).Column4refers
tothemusicalmeanswhichareinvolvedinmusicallymediatingtheseprimaryindicatorsandcolumn
5listswaysbywhichaperformercancontrolthesemeans.Thelastcolumndenotesaselectionofbio-
topicsorstatesofvitalitywhichareexperiencedbyaperformerintheactofperformanceandwhich
areconsideredtobethebasicelementsofacommunicativemusicality.
The informalreproductionoftherecontextualised informationdiscussedaboveandsummarized in
Fig.13.9canbeachievedbyusingtermssuchasvitality,entrainmentandmodesofinteractionina
practicalanddidacticdiscourse,andcreateanawarenessoftheroleandimpactofbio-topics.Within
IU Domain Keyterms Impactonperformativeanalysis
1 Cognitivescience Threestreams(gesture,grove,form),perceptualgrouping
Systematicandthree-partreductionofacomplexphenomenon;perceptualgroupingasanextraelementtotakeintoconsideration.
2 Literarycriticism Fourfociinliteraryanalysis(author,audience,work,universe)
Systematicreduction+linkswithdevelopmentalprocessesofinteraction.
3 Philosophyofculture
Artasthepresentationoffeeling Foregroundingtherelationbetweenmusicandaffect.
4 Analyticalphilospohy
Universalcontoursinperception,style-dependentconventions
Supportiveofabio-culturalapproach.
5 Psycho-analysis,developmentalpsychology
Vitality-affets,-contours Introducingtheconceptofvitalityasanattractorinthecontextofmusicalmeaning.
6 Linguistics,philosophy
Embodiedsemantics Situatingmusicalmeaninginthecontextofthebody(both,theperformer’sandlistener’sbody).
7 Musicology Culturalandstyle-specificmusicaltopics
Classificationandidentifactioninanalysis.
374
Figure13.9.Elementsofmusicalinteraction.
suchaninformalcontext,aphorismssuchas‘thegesturesandtonesofmusicsurfonstatesandwaves
ofvitality’canbealeadingmotifindiscussingandassessingmusicalperformance.
However,theinteractiveframeworkalsoallowsforamoresystematicandformalanalyticaltreatment.
Here, the concept of an Interactive andBio-topical Performative Analysis is presented as the bio-
culturalpenchantof‘topicalanalysis’asdevelopedbyRatnerinClassicMusic(1980):itisconcerned
Primaryindicatorsofinteraction Musicalmeans
ofinteraction
Performative
control
Statesofvitality
Bio-topics
(aselection)
Threeimmanentstreamsofinteraction
Fourfocalelementsofperformance
PerformativeModesofinteraction
Stream1:
Gestural
Melodic
Stream2:
‘Groove’
Meter
Rhythm
Stream3:
Form
Architectonics
MonadicPerformer
Self-expression(feelings&moods)
Contouring
Gesturing
Phrasing
Action-
metaphor
Pulsing
Mechanicsof
narration
(rhetorics)
Listening
Timing
Dynamics
Articulation
Tempo
(Tuning)
(Vibrato)
AsenseofbeginningAsenseofendingAsenseofchangeAsenseofsurpriseAsenseofbeingsurprisedAsenseofbecomingAsenseofsingingAsenseofbeingsomewhereAsenseofspaceAsenseofmovementAsenseofphrasingAsenseofflowAsenseofarrestAsenseofsilenceAsenseofbreathingAsenseofexpanding–contractingAsenseofbeingstatic–dynamicAsenseofrecognizingAsenseoflisteningAsenseofnoticingAsenseofbeinggenerous,happy,sad,lively,angry,tenderAsenseofexpectationAsenseofrealisationAsenseofexcitementAsenseoffreedomAsenseoftensionAsenseofdancingAsenseofsharingAsenseofplay
DyadicPerformerAudience
(Affect)regulation
(Affect)attunement
Entrainment
TriadicPerformerAudienceWork
JointAttention
Affectiveresponse
QuadraticPerformerAudienceWork‘Universe’
Mimesis(presentation)
Diegesis(representationofatemporaldevelopment)
375
withpunctuallyidentifyingandassessingvitality-archetypesthatpresentthemselvesinperforminga
pieceofmusic.Sincethesebio-topicsarenotreadilyobservable(asgesturesandsoundsare),thistype
of analysis can only be carried out by performers who are practicing or performing a particular
composition.
Bio-topicalperformativeanalysisallowsforvariouslevelsofcomplexityandsystematization.Atabasic
level,itestablishesanawarenessofcertainbasicsensesofvitalitythatarealreadyinformallypresent
in most personal theories; these senses can be further extended by getting acquainted with the
extendedlistofbio-topicsinFig.13.6.Thesamemulti-levelapproachappliestodiscussingtheprimary
performanceindicatorsofinteraction(seeFig.13.9columns1-3)whichdialoguewiththebio-topical
analysis.
From a more formal systematic perspective, four phases are proposed to be included in an
InteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysis.
1. Assessingmusical interactionvia thethreestreamsofmusical interaction (gesture,groove,
architecture).
2. Reflectingonthefociofperformance(monadic,dyadic,triadic,quadratic)andassessinghow
theyapplytoaconcretecontext.
3. Furtherrefiningthefociofperformance intermsofmodesofinteraction(expression,affect
regulation & attunement, entrainment, joined attention & shared intentionality, mimesis,
diegesis).
4. Reflectingonthebio-topicsthatcouldbeattributedtoparticular instancesandvitalisethe
sonicenvironment.
Takingthesephasesintoaccount,thefollowingapproachtoInteractionalandBio-topicalPerformative
Analysisisproposed:
InteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysisisconcernedwithidentifyingaffordancesfor
musicalinteractionandcommunicativemusicalityinamusicalscore,andwithreflectingonthe
embodiedstatesofvitality(bio-topics)ofaperformerthatareinvolvedincreatinganexperience
affordingsonicenvironment.
Definition8:InteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysis.
376
13.5 Casestudy:AnInteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysisoftheChopin
Mazurkaop.67nr.4
AsanillustrationofhowInteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysiscouldlooklikeinconcrete
circumstances,wenowturntoChopin’sMazurkaop.67nr.4andadopttheanalyticalphasesproposed
in13.4.408
13.5.1 Interactionalanalysis–primaryindicators
13.5.1.1 Theimmanentstreamsofinteraction:balancingthethreestreams
PiecessuchastheMazurka’sareprominentcasestudiestoassesstheoperationalisationofathree-
streamapproachtomusic.TheconcerninperformingpiecessuchastheMazurkaismostlydirected
atfindingabalancebetweenthethreestreams,i.e.theelementofmetricentrainment,themelodic
gestures and the overall development of the piece. The issue becomes more complicated when
realizingthat,accordingtotheoriginaldancestyleat least,thereshouldbeanaccentuationofthe
weakbeats.Takingintoaccountthatregularmetreallowsforabasicengagementandsynchronicity
withthemusicandthattempostabilityisoneofthecrucialenvironmentalinvariants409,compromising
thesefactorsareelementsthatcouldpotentiallyweakeninteractiveentrainment.Ifweaddthefactor
rubato,whichiscloselyconnectedtothegesturalstream,thenwehavealreadytwoelementsthat
could easily destabilise the performance; ‘sacrificing’ both the elements of easy and predictable
engagementcanpotentiallyresultindecreasinginteractivequality.
Masteringthebalancebetweentheseparametersisadauntingtaskthatlikelyculminatesinastage
ofsurrenderandtheexplorationofalternativerepertoirewhenastudenthasno‘innate’orotherwise
acquiredfeelingforthisparticulargenre.Ofcourse,thereisnotonewayofapproachingachallenge,
especially in instrumental didactics.410 The framework of the immanent streams of interaction,
408SelectingaChopinMazurkaforthiscasestudyisrelatedto:1/theprominenceofmazurka’sintheanalyticalliterature (Cook,2007;Ohriner,2014);2/ thebrevityof thepiece;and3/ itsvalue in introducingearly-stagepianiststoChopin’swork.409 In Ecological Psychology the elementsof a relatively permanent, yet ever-transforming environment, arecalled‘invariants’andtwotypesarediscerned:1/transformationalinvariantsarethoserelationalaspectsoftheinformationthatspecifytheidentityofaparticularpatternofchange.Wheneverapianistplays,(s)heproducesa range of sounds (dynamically and qua pitch) that are distinguishable from sounds generated on otherinstruments;and2/structuralinvariants,ontheotherhand,arerelationalpropertiesspecifictothestructureofthesourceobjectundergoingaparticularstyleofchange.Themechanicalpropertiesofapiano,oreventhepianist’stoucher,correspondtotheinvariantstructuralfeaturesoftoneproductiononapiano.Withinamusicalcontext,tempo,canbeconsideredbothasastructural(onetempo)andtransformational(ritardando,ritenuto)invariant.410Anothernon-verbalandanalogueapproachtoberecommendedwouldcertainlybetheSilentPianoTechniqueasbrieflyindicatedinSection12.3.
377
however,canbeafirstreferenceinapproachingandassessingacodedsonicenvironmentandcreate
awarenessofthemulti-layeredpresenceofinteractivecomponentsinthismusic.
13.5.1.2 Focalelementsofperformanceandmodesofinteraction
AfurtherelementofaninteractionalanalysisistoexplorehowtheMazurkaallowsfortheadoption
andintegrationofdifferentfocalelementsandmodesofinteraction.
Fromamonadicpointofview,theMazurkacouldfunctionasametaphorforasenseofself-possessed
andpersonallyfeltfreedomandenjoymentexpressedintheformofaminiature(theMazurkaisan
elegantand rather shortpiece). Suchaperspectivecouldoccasionan intimateand inward-looking
renditionof thepiecewithamodestdynamicrange,anticipatorymicro-timing,subtlemomentsof
change,andaratheruniformaffectivestyleandtemperament411;however,the‘forte’thatisindicated
at the beginning of the Chopin manuscript dating from 1848 (Chopin 1953/2015, pp 152-153) is
suggestiveofamorepassionaterenderingwithgreatemotionsandlargeromanticgestures.Looking
atconcreteinstancessuchastheopeningofthepiece,itcanbeinferredthatamonadicstancewill
occasion an anticipated E, followedby a powerful placedbass note in the left handand a stormy
continutationintherighthand.Arecordingofthefirst33barsoftheMazurkainamonadicstyleina
rendition of the author can be seen at https://vimeo.com/231298237 [Password: JoostPhD]. An
exampleofamonadicapproachisarecordingbyDénesVárjon(92ndStreetY,2009)412.
Adoptinganeffect-oriented,rhetoricalanddyadicstance,theperformercanprefertoopenwitha
firstnotethatgrabstheattentionofthelistener413andcomesasasurprise.Inthisscenario,thefirst
lefthandnoteiscrucialforinstigatingastrongfeelofentrainmentandwouldthereforedemonstrate
anenergetic‘bounce’;theplayfulcontoursintherighthandwillbeusedtoholdattentionandadd
emphasesinarhetoricalwayandthegeneraldescentthatcharacterizesthecontoursinA1willafford
asoothingattunement.Elementsofchange,suchasforinstanceinB1,canpotentiallybeupgradedto
acontrastingeffect.Arecordingofthefirst33barsoftheMazurkainadyadic,entrainment-oriented
style in a rendition of the author can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/231297883 [Password:
JoostPhD].AnexampleofadyadicapproachisRubenstein’srecording(ArRubMusic,2009)414.
411“Affectivestylereferstorelativelystabledispositionsthatbiasanindividualtowardperceivingandrespondingtopeopleandobjectswithaparticularemotionalquality,emotionaldimension,ormood.Temperamentreferstoparticularaffectivestylesthatareapparentearlyinlife,andthusmaybedeterminedbygeneticfactors”(R.J.Davidson,Scherer,&Goldsmith,2003,p.xiii).412https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcxZRI6aews.413IntheposthumousFontanaEdition(Chopin,1953/2015,pp.150-151)anemphasisisaddedtothefirstnote‘<’.414https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcxZRI6aews.
378
From a triadic perspective, the role of the performer is one of revealing and illuminating the
compositionasanautonomousenvironment thatneedsperformativeguidance. Sucha stancewill
implycarefulfollowingthemelodiccontoursandpayingattentionto‘special’momentsandinvariants.
Such ‘special moments’ include elements such as the highest note [B26], the lowest note [B9],
harmonicvariants[B4],modulatoryevents[C1],andchromaticcontouring[B14-15].
Fromaquadraticpointofview,theMazurkacanbeconsideredasapresentationofasuccessionof
events(mimesis)orasarepresentationofthoseevents(diegesis).Inthecaseofaquadratic-mimetic
perspective,theMazurkaisconsideredtobethepresentationofasuccessionofeventswhereit
couldbeimaginedthatoneormorescenesconcernapersona(oranotherorganism)whomovesand
behaves‘Mazurka-like’inaspace.Suchaviewpointcanemphasizethegesturalcontoursthatgo
alongwiththedancingandwillconsiderthemacro-structuralchangesasachangeofscenery,
involvinganotherspaceandpotentiallyotherpersonae.Anotherpossibilityistoadoptaperspective
inwhichthemelodiccontoursrefertothestructureofexperienceofapersonaandthatthemacro-
structuralchangesrefertochangesinthestateofmind;withinsuchacontextC1couldberelatedto
astateofdaydreamingforinstance.theroleoftheperformeriseithertobecomethatperson(orto
observehim/her)ororganismandexperiencethevitalityofmovementanddancingortotakethe
stanceofanobserverwhoassessesandlivesthestateofmindofapersonaempathically.Inthe
lattercase,theperformancewillbelessvividandevokeamorematuredanddistancedexperience.
ArecordingoftheMazurkainaquadratic-mimeticstyleinarenditionoftheauthorcanbeconsulted
athttps://vimeo.com/231296869[password:JoostPhD].Anexampleofaquadratic-mimetic
approachisEvgenyKissin’srecordingofthepiece(KEUDER,2008)415.
Such an imaginative quadratic-mimetic and observational perspective comes close to a quadratic-
diegeticviewpointwhichislikelytoengenderanevenmoredetachedrepresentationandnarrative
stance.With adjoining support of themonadic, dyadic and triadic elements, themacro-structural
elementsof theenvironmentnowbecometheprimary focusofattentionaswellasanunderlying
senseofserenestory-telling.Anobservationalstanceimpliesreflection,invitingalessvividrendition
thanamimeticperspective.Theopeningofthepiecewillsoundasaninvitationtolistenverymuchas
“once upon a time…”, and the phrasing will be concerned with following the contours that are
characteristic of telling a story (such as beginning and ending a phrase/story, breathing between
phrases,pausing).
Arbitratingbetweenorintegratingperformativestancesandmodesofinteractionisnotamatterof
truth-findingbutoneofassessment,flexibility,ofcreatingoptionsandpragmaticaffordances;itallows
415https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgOzDDPlFjI.
379
theperformertoreflectonone’sownexperienceandtogobeyondfirstintuitionsandperformative
habitsbysystematicallyexploringtheaffordancesprovidedbythecodedenvironment(thescore)ina
stimulatingfashion.
Oneoutcomeofsuchdeliberation–themostappealingoneintheauthor’sview–couldbetoadopt
primarilyaquadratic-mimeticapproachwhereapersona,adancer ispresentedandobservedwho
expressesher/hisjoyousandelegantstateofmindandthedevelopmentofthatvitalitythroughout
themacro-structuralentities,supportedbythegesturalandentrainingcharacteristicsofaMazurka.
Withinsuchaquadratic-mimeticframework,monadic,dyadicandtriadicelementscanbecalledupon
tosupportamorecaptivatinginteractionalexperience.
13.5.2 Assigningbio-topics
Theassignmentandconsiderationofbio-topicsisthelastphaseofanalysisandimpliesareflectionon
thefundamentalstatesof(embodied)mindthatarerequiredandprecedethegesturalanddynamic
contoursthatarethenfurtherspecifiedintermsofmicro-timing,articulation,tempoanddynamics.
Taking a quadratic-mimetic stance as a primary interactional focus, a suggestion for bio-topics in
Chopin’sMazurkaop.67nr.4isindicatedinFig.13.10-11anddiscursivelycommentedonbelow.
• ‘A sense of play’, ‘a sense of enjoyment’ and ‘a sense of freedom’: the tempo indicationallegrettowhichisusuallydefinedas‘slightlylessfastthanallegro’(Randel,2003)refersfromabio-topicalpointofviewtotheavailabilityoftimethatmakesonefeelateaseandallowsforelegantplay.Thesenseofplaywhichisimpliedinthetempoindicationisalsopresentinthetypeofcontouring thatChopinchooses, thevividuseof thrills, ‘thesenseofvariationandfreedom’inA2,andthewayinwhichentrainmentdevelopsfrom‘asenseofhypermeasured416andsuspendeddancing’into‘asenseofmeasuredwaltzing’inB1.Asalreadymentioned,thesenseofdance-inducedentrainmentisofaspecialkind,itcombinescyclicentrainmentwith‘asenseofmazurkiansuspension’.
• ‘Asenseofbeginning’,‘asenseofcontouring’,‘asenseofending’:intherighthandthesebio-topics relate to the gestural behaviour of an imagineddancer (persona) and following thedelicatecontoursofthemelodicline,‘asenseofelegance’canbeattributedtothesegestures.The ‘sense of ending’ is varied in theMazurka: the eight-bar phrases suggest inconclusiveendingsthatelegantlypassoverintothebeginningofthenextphrase;suchamodusoperandifits well the ‘sense of elegance’ thatmarks the piece; even the last bar lacks ‘a sense ofconclusion’andkeepsthejoyfulyetmelancholicfeelingintheair.
• ‘A sense of change’: the structural changes in the piece can be interpreted either of anexperientialorenvironmentalnature.InsectionB1itisnotsomuchachangeofscenerybut
416A‘hypermeasure’isaunitinwhicheachregularmeasureisonebeatofalargermeter;inthiscase,themeterof3/4cantemporarilyevolveintoa6/4meter.Theoppositephenomenonof‘hypomeasure’occurswhenabeatwithameterevolvesintoameasureansich;hypomeasureimplies‘asenseofslowingdown’andcanbeusedinconcludingapiece.
380
ratheroneofvitality,evolvingfromadescendinglineand‘asenseofplay’intoanascendinglineanda‘asenseofcautiousness’.The‘senseofchange’inC1ismoredrastic;animportantinvariant,thekey,ismodified;thisintuitivelyevokesachangeofscenery(eitherinnaturalorinmentalenvironment).Moreover,thisparticularsectionhasnotupbeatandverydiscretemetricalsupport.Thispassusmaybeexperiencedasafocalshift,amovefromaquadratic-mimetictoaquadratic-diegeticperspectivethatdoesnotpresentbutratherrepresentsanewdream-likesituation.
• The sense of change in B21 is of amore subtle nature: the ascending line evolves into aharmoniouslysupporteddescendinglineandevokes‘asenseofcomfortandrelief’.
• ‘Asenseofheight’,‘asenseofdepth’:theselociimplyelementsofthetriadicfocuswhichisalso inherent to the composition. They can be considered as ‘special moments’ and beimplicitlyshownbymeansoftiming,anticipatedarticulationanddynamics.
381
Figure13.10.ChopinMazurkaop.67nr.4,page1417.
417 The score used for this example is based on an open-domain edition (Chopin, 1880)with corrections asindicatedintheautographfrom1848(Chopin,2015,pp.152-153).
382
Figure13.8.ChopinMazurkaop.67nr.4,page2.
13.6 Assessment
Whatwedevelopedinthischapterisananalyticaltoolandavocabularybothrootedinamodelof
interactionalmusicality and facilitating the communication and reflection on the interactional and
performativepossibilitiesthatamusicalscriptholdsinrelationtostatesofvitality(orbio-topics).The
383
frameworkofthisanalysisexemplifieshowbio-culturalinformedperformershipcouldwork:itstarts
froman Image – a reservoir of personal theories andproto-typical intuitions – allowing a process
whereinextra-disciplinaryinformationimpactsonthatImageandthenpragmaticallyandcreatively
‘jumpstogether’tocometoaninformedandmoresystematicunderstanding.
Relating personal experience to an informed and systemic framework forms a dialogical win-win
situation:fromtheconceptualframework–whichinthiscaseincludesinteractionalstreams,various
focalelementsofperformanceandmodesofinteractionandmusicaldevices–environment-related
bio-topicscanbegeneratedthatareinformativetointuition-basedperformanceandviceversa;from
playingthemusicnewinsightscanbeinferredwithregardtoasystematicintegrationofauniverseof
interactionalandbio-topicalpossibilities.
Because InteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysis is informedbyamulti-layeredrangeof
information units and is embedded in a broader bio-culturally framework, it allows for further
expansion and critical review of its tenets. Rather than an opinion or dogma, it is an assembled
structureof recontextualized information tobesharedanddiscussedamongmusicians inorder to
cometointra-practicalandtransdisciplinarydialogueandcreativity.
Fromafunctionalpointofview,beingabletodiscursivelycommunicateaboutandreflectonashared
intentional object (a coded or sonic environment) by means of a systematic framework, offers
opportunitiesbothforaspirantperformersandprofessionals.
Formusiciansintheearlystagesoftheirformation,InteractionalandBio-topicalPerformativeAnalysis
can open doors towards a differentiated, experience-based understanding of repertoire and the
performativepossibilitiesthattheyafford.Inadditiontodeeplearning,InteractionalandBio-topical
Performative Analysis allows for the development of a repertoire of differentiated interactional
instrumentsandvitalities.Ratherthanseeing instrumentaldidactics focusondeveloping inastep-
wise manner a sequence of technical aspects, a bio-topical perspective can offer new didactical
possibilitiesinmakingpianists,intheearlystagesoftheirengagementwiththeinstrument,awareof
primarybio-topicssuchas‘asenseofbeginning’,‘asenseofending’,‘asenseofenjoying’,‘asenseof
recognizing’ (in early ABA-forms) and gradually and comparatively exploring the more extended
universeofbio-topics.
The complexity, ambiguity and nuancedway inwhich bio-topics develop in notatedmusic can be
consideredinamoregenericsenseasalaboratoryforhumandevelopmentandexperience,andcould
wellbethelocationwherethetreasureandvalueofWesternArtMusicineducationandsocietyisto
besituated.
For theprofessional,bio-topicalanalysispresentsanopportunity toextendandbetterunderstand
one’spersonalrepertoireofexpressiveandinteractionaltools.Comparingittothetechnicalbaggage
thatcanbeattributedasasignaturetoprofessionalmusicians,performersareabletodeveloptheir