Heuristics for expressive performance

Prior, Helen; Leech-Wilkinson, Daniel

Abstract

This chapter discusses concepts and terms that professional musicians find useful in preparing for and talking and thinking about expressive performance. An example is “shape,” which, as recent research has shown, is immensely flexible and useful for sharing ideas about how to generate expressive performance without having to specify exactly which sounds might be required. The word is used between musical performers with a high level of mutual understanding, as a way of communicating expressive features that are actually very difficult to articulate in more detail. Further examples of heuristics for musical expression are drawn from a recent interview study of professional musicians, and their implications are discussed. It is argued that this kind of terminology, easily dismissed as superficial or vague, is in fact precisely targeted to the nature of the task and is highly effective in use by musicians.

Citation

Prior, H., & Leech-Wilkinson, D. (2014). Heuristics for expressive performance. In R. Timmers, D. Fabian, & E. Schubert (Eds.), Expressiveness in musical performance: Empirical approaches across styles and cultures. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199659647.003.0003

• Publication Date: Jul 3, 2014
• Deposit Date: May 24, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 24, 2016
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Book Title: Expressiveness in musical performance: Empirical approaches across styles and cultures
• ISBN: 9780199659647
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199659647.003.0003
• Keywords: Heuristics, Expressive performance, Musical expression, Shaping, Tools
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/438642
• Publisher URL: http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199659647.001.0001/acprof-9780199659647-chapter-3
• Contract Date: May 24, 2016