Testing a new protocol to measure tuning response behaviour in solo voice ensemble singing

Helena Daffern; Judith Sara Brereton

Testing a new protocol to measure tuning response behaviour in solo voice ensemble singing

Electronic Engineering

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Abstract

Tuning within choirs when performing a capella contin-ues to be a subject of interest to researchers and practi-tioners in terms of theoretical preferred tuning systems and the instinctive tuning behaviour of choral singers. Although more studies are exploring the issues surround-ing tuning within choirs, most research on tuning in choirs focuses on the mean fundamental frequency of tones, either through analysis of performance, or percep-tual listening tests. This paper considers a specific proto-col and tools for analysis to assess the tuning characteris-tics of individuals singing in a choral texture. The results illustrate the tuning features throughout single notes and the extent to which singers adapt their tuning to the sur-rounding chord in equal temperament and just tuning. To test the effectiveness of this new methodology, data col-lected in a previous experiment is reconsidered in which singers were recorded performing a specially written cho-ral exercise where the other parts were synthesised and heard over headphones. Overall the analysis proved a successful and efficient process. The results of the analysis suggest that further research into the tuning tendencies of choral singers, particularly in terms of fundamental frequency trajectories would prove valuable as a research area. Modifications to the protocol are considered for an upcoming study, which is planned for next year, and a revised hypothesis for the tuning strategies in the set ex-ercise is presented.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 2013
Event	Sound and Music Computing Conference 2013 - Stockholm, Sweden Duration: 30 Jul 2013 → 2 Aug 2013 http://smcnetwork.org/resources/smc2013?order=title&sort=desc

Conference

Conference	Sound and Music Computing Conference 2013
Abbreviated title	SMC 2013
Country/Territory	Sweden
City	Stockholm
Period	30/07/13 → 2/08/13
Internet address	http://smcnetwork.org/resources/smc2013?order=title&sort=desc

Keywords

tuning
singing
voice analysis

Access to Document

http://judebrereton.wordpress.com/publications/

Cite this

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title = "Testing a new protocol to measure tuning response behaviour in solo voice ensemble singing",

abstract = "Tuning within choirs when performing a capella contin-ues to be a subject of interest to researchers and practi-tioners in terms of theoretical preferred tuning systems and the instinctive tuning behaviour of choral singers. Although more studies are exploring the issues surround-ing tuning within choirs, most research on tuning in choirs focuses on the mean fundamental frequency of tones, either through analysis of performance, or percep-tual listening tests. This paper considers a specific proto-col and tools for analysis to assess the tuning characteris-tics of individuals singing in a choral texture. The results illustrate the tuning features throughout single notes and the extent to which singers adapt their tuning to the sur-rounding chord in equal temperament and just tuning. To test the effectiveness of this new methodology, data col-lected in a previous experiment is reconsidered in which singers were recorded performing a specially written cho-ral exercise where the other parts were synthesised and heard over headphones. Overall the analysis proved a successful and efficient process. The results of the analysis suggest that further research into the tuning tendencies of choral singers, particularly in terms of fundamental frequency trajectories would prove valuable as a research area. Modifications to the protocol are considered for an upcoming study, which is planned for next year, and a revised hypothesis for the tuning strategies in the set ex-ercise is presented. ",

keywords = "tuning, singing, voice analysis",

author = "Helena Daffern and Brereton, {Judith Sara}",

year = "2013",

language = "English",

note = "Sound and Music Computing Conference 2013, SMC 2013 ; Conference date: 30-07-2013 Through 02-08-2013",

url = "http://smcnetwork.org/resources/smc2013?order=title&sort=desc",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Testing a new protocol to measure tuning response behaviour in solo voice ensemble singing

AU - Daffern, Helena

AU - Brereton, Judith Sara

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Tuning within choirs when performing a capella contin-ues to be a subject of interest to researchers and practi-tioners in terms of theoretical preferred tuning systems and the instinctive tuning behaviour of choral singers. Although more studies are exploring the issues surround-ing tuning within choirs, most research on tuning in choirs focuses on the mean fundamental frequency of tones, either through analysis of performance, or percep-tual listening tests. This paper considers a specific proto-col and tools for analysis to assess the tuning characteris-tics of individuals singing in a choral texture. The results illustrate the tuning features throughout single notes and the extent to which singers adapt their tuning to the sur-rounding chord in equal temperament and just tuning. To test the effectiveness of this new methodology, data col-lected in a previous experiment is reconsidered in which singers were recorded performing a specially written cho-ral exercise where the other parts were synthesised and heard over headphones. Overall the analysis proved a successful and efficient process. The results of the analysis suggest that further research into the tuning tendencies of choral singers, particularly in terms of fundamental frequency trajectories would prove valuable as a research area. Modifications to the protocol are considered for an upcoming study, which is planned for next year, and a revised hypothesis for the tuning strategies in the set ex-ercise is presented.

AB - Tuning within choirs when performing a capella contin-ues to be a subject of interest to researchers and practi-tioners in terms of theoretical preferred tuning systems and the instinctive tuning behaviour of choral singers. Although more studies are exploring the issues surround-ing tuning within choirs, most research on tuning in choirs focuses on the mean fundamental frequency of tones, either through analysis of performance, or percep-tual listening tests. This paper considers a specific proto-col and tools for analysis to assess the tuning characteris-tics of individuals singing in a choral texture. The results illustrate the tuning features throughout single notes and the extent to which singers adapt their tuning to the sur-rounding chord in equal temperament and just tuning. To test the effectiveness of this new methodology, data col-lected in a previous experiment is reconsidered in which singers were recorded performing a specially written cho-ral exercise where the other parts were synthesised and heard over headphones. Overall the analysis proved a successful and efficient process. The results of the analysis suggest that further research into the tuning tendencies of choral singers, particularly in terms of fundamental frequency trajectories would prove valuable as a research area. Modifications to the protocol are considered for an upcoming study, which is planned for next year, and a revised hypothesis for the tuning strategies in the set ex-ercise is presented.

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KW - singing

KW - voice analysis

M3 - Paper

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Y2 - 30 July 2013 through 2 August 2013

ER -