Intonational protention in the performance of melodic octaves on the violin

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether, in violin performance, frequency changes occur in the tone preceding a given tone which might represent an announcement of the direction of that tone. In order to examine this possibility, melodic octaves were performed on the violin upwards from B4 (494 Hz) and downwards from B5 (988 Hz) on the A and E strings with and without position shift. Altogether 20 octaves performed upwards and 20 downwards were recorded monophonically on tape at a speed of 38.1 cm/s. A method of measuring the frequency of the fundamental partials of the violin tones was applied which took into account the succeeding stages of the tone. Specially prepared computer programs were used for this purpose. Particular attention was focused on frequency changes in the final stage of the first tone of the melodic octave. There was strong evidence to suggest that already in the last state of a given tone an announcement of a pitch change in the following tone is issued. Frequency modification in the last state of a tone which is in agreement with the movement direction of the following tone suggests that the performer incorporates protention (anticipation) in the process of shaping subsequent pitches in order to obtain homogeneous sound unity.