Search results for "harpsichord"

Communicating voice emphasis in harpsichord performance

2009

We investigated the means used by harpsichordists to communicate voice-specific melodic emphasis. Twelve harpsichordists were asked to perform a short Baroque polyphonic piece by Frescobaldi (1583-1643) on a harpsichord equipped with a MIDI console. Three conditions were tested, each requiring performers to emphasize a particular voice in the piece (soprano, alto, tenor). Four parameters were analyzed: velocity, note onset asynchrony, timing deviations, and articulation. Mean onset asynchronies were much larger than those observed in organ or piano performance, averaging more than 100 ms between outer voices. However, asynchronies did not vary significantly between conditions, suggesting th…