Effects of Polyphonic Context, Instrumentation, and Metrical Location on Syncopation in Music

Abstract

IN MUSIC, THE RHYTHMS OF DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTSare often syncopated against each other to create tension. Existing perceptual theories of syncopation cannot adequately model such kinds of syncopation since they assume monophony. This study investigates the effects of polyphonic context, instrumentation and metrical location on the salience of syncopations. Musicians and nonmusicians were asked to tap along to rhythmic patterns of a drum kit and rate their stability; in these patterns, syncopations occurred among different numbers of streams, with different instrumentation and at different metrical locations. The results revealed that the stability of syncopations depends on all these factors and music training, in variously interacting ways. It is proposed that listeners' experiences of syncopations are shaped by polyphonic and instrumental configuration, metrical structure, and individual music training, and a number of possible mechanisms are considered, including the rhythms' acoustic properties, ecological associations, statistical learning, and timbral differentiation.

Predictive Processes and the Peculiar Case of Music

“…'strong' and 'weak' beats), which provides a prior context for perceiving the succession of musical events over time (e.g. 'Waltz' vs. 'March') [15][16][17][18]. However, music features events that challenge metrical expectations, e.g.…”

Now you hear it: a predictive coding model for understanding rhythmic incongruity

“…In the case of syncopation, we can obtain an estimate of both the precision and the prediction error. The syncopation in a given musical rhythm can be calculated directly from the musical score, demonstrated, for example, by Longuet‐Higgins and Lee's formulation or Witek and colleagues’ adjusted formulation . The precision (metrical uncertainty) can be behaviorally estimated by measuring participants’ sensorimotor synchronization to the beat using finger‐tapping paradigms or motion capture or by neurophysiological measures …”

“…The syncopation in a given musical rhythm can be calculated directly from the musical score, demonstrated, for example, by Longuet-Higgins and Lee's formulation or Witek and colleagues' adjusted formulation. 19 The precision (metrical uncertainty) can be behaviorally estimated by measuring participants' sensorimotor synchronization to the beat using finger-tapping paradigms 20,21 or motion capture 22,23 or by neurophysiological measures. 24,26 In the following, we show how PC in general and the PCRI model in particular can help to explain experimental observations concerning musical rhythm and meter.…”

“…Our PCRI model targets the frequently investigated example of prediction error arising from a rhythmmeter discrepancy: syncopation. 18,19,38,39 Syncopation occurs when onsets occur on metrically weak accents and subsequent rests or tied notes occur on metrically strong accents ( Fig. 2).…”

Filling In: Syncopation, Pleasure and Distributed Embodiment in Groove

“…In another empirical study, my co‐authors and I found that while monophonic syncopations were perceived to be the least stable (i.e. violating most expectations), syncopations in polyphonic contexts – syncopations accompanied by one or two more instruments which emphasise the beat – were also experienced as unstable, although less so (Witek, Clarke, Kringelbach and Vuust ). In other words, syncopations in polyphonic contexts still make the groove incomplete and still require our participation.…”