Bach vs. Mozart: The Hidden Science of Emotional Music Preferences

[erronis]

https://scitechdaily.com/bach-vs-mozart-the-hidden-science-of-emotional-music-preferences/

Scientists measure the variability in musical pieces.

Music is widely known to evoke emotions, but how exactly do these emotions arise, and how does meaning emerge from music? Nearly 70 years ago, music philosopher Leonard Meyer proposed that both are the result of an interplay between expectation and surprise. Throughout evolution, it has been essential for humans to make new predictions based on past experiences.

This is how we can also form expectations and predictions about the progression of music based on what we have heard. According to Meyer, emotions and meaning in music arise from the interplay of expectations and their fulfillment or (temporary) non-fulfillment.

A team of scientists led by Theo Geisel at the MPI-DS and the University of Göttingen have asked themselves whether these philosophical concepts can be quantified empirically using modern methods of data science.

In a paper published recently in Nature Communications, they used time series analysis to infer the autocorrelation function of musical pitch sequences; it measures how similar a tone sequence is to previous sequences. This results in a kind of “memory” of the piece of music. If this memory decreases only slowly with the time difference, the time series is easier to anticipate; if it vanishes rapidly, the time series offers more variation and surprises.

[cachukis]

1. Wild.

[fierywoman]

2. Why does it have to be "vs"? Bach is Dionysian, Mozart is Apollonian; each to his own.

[erronis]

3. Probably because we like the yin-yang and that gets more discussions?

I've had decades of fruitful (and some without any fruit) discussion about the values of different art and perceptions. Personally I don't have strong preferences but there are times when one or another seems right for me at that point in time. Damn subjective!

[msongs]

4. re Bach, like the emperor said in Amadeus film, too many notes. his music is so busy nt

[erronis]

5. I think about jazz and the glissandos and filling the space with between-notes

I'm not a musician but have played a few instruments including harpsichords and early clavichords.

When you're trying to mimic the human voice's ability to span several frequencies in a few moments, I can see using trills and arpeggios to give that impression.

Of course, instruments that don't have precise note placements or can be easily "warped" make it easier(?) for the composer or player.

Exiting from the hall since I don't know of what I spew!

[msongs]

6. yes I suppose he was limited with what instruments were on hand and what was fashionable in the day nt

[SCantiGOP]

7. My two favorite subjects

Good music and science.
Thanks for the post.

[Ysabel]

8. Let's listen...

?si=A3xrWazlvibtHqkZ

?si=9URE2RBRTKt3FuAB

I love them both but I love Bach a little more I think...

[Ysabel]

9. I think...

(I think) I might like Beethoven over Mozart too...

?si=RobvuWuAvL4SizFW

[erronis]

10. Oh, my goodness. Now you've started to introduce many other dimensions into the plot.

Brahms, Bruchner, Bloch, Bizet, Barber, B.... - just to touch on the 'B's and only the "classical" composers.

I love so many of the works of so many composers and artists that it is impossible for me to pick even 3 or 4 of my favorites. Like a parent having to choose their favorite children.

And my tastes change quickly. I guess if I was a professional musician I'd want to specialize, but I bet most of them don't have one composer in their "favorite" repertory.