Music Interpretation and Emotion Perception: A Computational and Neurophysiological Investigation

TL;DR

This study combines computational and neurophysiological methods to explore how musical performance settings and expressiveness influence emotional communication and perception in both performers and audiences.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the acoustic and neurophysiological correlates of emotional expression in music performance, emphasizing the role of improvisation and expressiveness.

Findings

Expressive and improvisational performances have distinct acoustic features.

Listeners show stronger emotional responses to expressive performances.

Neurophysiological data indicate greater relaxation during improvisation.

Abstract

This study investigates emotional expression and perception in music performance using computational and neurophysiological methods. The influence of different performance settings, such as repertoire, diatonic modal etudes, and improvisation, as well as levels of expressiveness, on performers' emotional communication and listeners' reactions is explored. Professional musicians performed various tasks, and emotional annotations were provided by both performers and the audience. Audio analysis revealed that expressive and improvisational performances exhibited unique acoustic features, while emotion analysis showed stronger emotional responses. Neurophysiological measurements indicated greater relaxation in improvisational performances. This multimodal study highlights the significance of expressivity in enhancing emotional communication and audience engagement.