Where: Research II, Lecture Hall
When: Tue 11:15 – 12:30
Fri 8:15 – 9:30
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

Dr. Adele Diederich
Professor of Psychology
Marcel Oliver, PhD
Professor of Mathematics
Research IV, Room 117 a.diederich@iu-bremen.de
Phone: 3431
Research I, Room 107 m.oliver@iu-bremen.de
Phone: 3212
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

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Course Requirements: Regular class attendance; four 30 min quizzes in class – the quizzes will be based upon both the required readings, (the excursion) and information discussed in class; one student project, can be done in groups of two; possible excursions
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Grading : Based upon the quizzes (80 points) and the project (20 points)
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

Music, Physics, Psychophysics, and
Neuropychology: An
Interdisciplinary Approach
Reading: Roederer, Chapter 1
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

Systems that are relevant to the music to hear
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The player and the instrument that "makes" the music.
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The air that transmit the sound
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There is you, the listener.
What is the link between the chain instrument !
air !
listener
?
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

instrument !
air !
listener source !
medium !
receptor
1. The source emits .
2. The medium transmits .
3. The receptor detect s, registers, or, in general, is affected in some specific way.
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

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Primary excitation mechanism
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Bowing or plucking on a violin string
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Oscillating reed in a clarinet
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Player's lips in a brass instrument
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Air stream blown against a wedge of a flute
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Vibrating element
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Resonator http://www.music.msu.edu/faculty/recordings.php
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

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Medium proper: air, liquids, solids
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Boundaries: Walls, ceiling, floor, people in the audience, etc. affect the sound propagation by reflection and absorption
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

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Ear: Outer ear, middle ear, inner ear
♪ auditory nervous system, auditory cortex
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The listener may be replaced by an recording device.
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

Characteristic attributes of musical sounds
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Three primary sensations
♪ pitch
♪ loudness
♪ timbre
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(volume)
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(density or brightness)
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005

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Musical message : time sequence of individual tones or tone superpositions
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Example: melody
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Attributes of meaningful musical messages:
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Tonality: domination of a single tone in the sequence
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Sense of return to the tonic
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Modulation
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Rhythm
A.Diederich – International University Bremen – USC – MMM – Spring 2005