Consonance
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Define CONSONANCE
The perceived, subjective ‘pleasantness’ of a combination of pitches (chord)
What are the three theories of consonance perception?
Periodicity/Harmonicity Interference between partials Cultural familiarity
Explain the HARMONICITY THEORY OF CONSONANCE
• Frequency components in simple ratios with are harmonics that are integer multiples of a common fundamental frequency line up neatly when spectrally superimposed • This creates a clear harmonic template that is easier for the brain to process
Explain the PERIODICITY THEORY OF CONSONANCE
• The periods of pitches with simpler frequency ratios line up closely and more often than complex frequency ratios do • This creates a clearer template that is easier for the brain to process
Explain how INTERFERENCE BETWEEN PARTIALS is involved in consonance perception
The idea that consonance is the absence of dissonance via BEATING and MASKING
Explain BEATING; give the region in which this typically occurs
• Perceptual roughness occurs when there is a close difference between sine waves • Periodic waves forms do not neatly overlap which is difficult for the brain to process (template matching) • typically around 20/30Hz
Explain MASKING
• Dissonance caused by the brain’s inability to distinguish between partials that are close together and stimulate overlapping regions on the basilar membrane within the same critical band • Components do not neatly overlap which is difficult for the brain to process (template matching)
Which theories of consonance perception are more likely
• Periodicity/Harmonicity and interference between partials predict that simple integer frequency ratios are more consonant • When tone spectra are stretched, modelling for interference is retained but P/H does not hold up • Non-Western ears have a different conception of consonance, implying feedback loop of familiarity; perhaps the template matching process is also culturally instilled