Synchronous Sympathy at the Symphony

Abstract

THIS STUDY COMPARED THE EMOTIONAL INTENSITIES of a conductor and audience during a concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The affective state of the conductor was estimated unobtrusively with a wearable electrocardiogram, and audience participants selfreported their affective states with manual slider boxes. Results indicated that: 1) the conductor's heart rate variations were temporally aligned with structural patterns in the musical scores; and 2) these variations strongly correlated with the average emotional intensity measurement of the audience. Four consecutive musical selections yielded significant positive correlations (p < .001; r ¼ .86, .84, .48, .61), demonstrating a temporally related emotional intensity shared between the conductor and audience during the performance. Although a causal relationship was not determined, some evidence supported induction as the mechanism of emotional communication. These results suggest possible methods for better understanding the affective experiences of conductors, the reactions of listeners to various stimuli, and the interactions between audiences and musicians during concerts.

Audiences’ emotional response to choir singing by people living with mental health conditions

“…Specific emotions can be conveyed from the artist to listener through the musical structure of the composition (Koelsch, 2014). During performances, the intensity with which the music is performed, and facial expressions of the artists, also deepens listeners' experience of emotional contagion from the artist (Nakra & BuSha, 2014). Consequently, the emotions expressed by the performers are empathically experienced by the listeners.…”

Arts-based groups in mental health recovery

“…Choirs of people with CMHC may help to facilitate positive emotions and social bonding between the choristers and their audience through the effects of the music (Koelsch, 2014). Music can provoke emotions associated with appreciating the art (e.g., admiration, inspiration; Juslin, 2013), and instigate empathetic reactions to the performer (Nakra & BuSha, 2014). Furthermore, when watching a music performance, the audience can develop a sense of connectedness with the performers (van Mourik Broekman et al, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, specific emotions can be conveyed from the artist to listener through the musical structure of the composition (Koelsch, 2014;Vieillard, Roy & Peretz, 2012). During performances the intensity in which the music is performed also deepens listeners' experience of emotional contagion from the artist (Nakra & BuSha, 2014).…”