Emotions in Music

by Vanessa
Human body with music
● Pupils dilate
● Pulse + blood pressure rise/fall
● Electrical conductance of skin lowered
● Active cerebellum
● Blood directed legs
○ Tap feet while listening to music
● Dopamine release
● Physical capacity increase
● Physical sensations on skin
○ “Skin organsms”
Music and emotion
● Evokes emotion + memories
● Link unique to humans
● Branch of music psychology
○ Philosophy
○ Musicology
○ Music theory
○ Aesthetics
○ Music composition
○ Performance
● Composer
● Performer
● Audience
Composition
● Association human speech
● Key/chords
○ Study (Curtis, M. E., Bharucha, J. J. 2010) show pitch in sad speech approx. minor third
○ Jazz chords more colour – notes from foreign keys
● Tempo
○ Slow tempo – relaxed, sad
○ Fast tempo – happy, angry
○ Rubato – expressive
○ Slowing down before climax – prolong anticipation
● Harmony
○ Octaves – more dramatic – layered
○ Alberti bass – sense of progress
● Melody
○ Leaps – disorienting, hectic
○ Simple song-like – expressive
Composition
● Dynamics
○ Forte – anger, joy, dramatic
○ Piano – sad, gentle, cautious
● Unpredictable
○ Variation, themes
○ Unfulfilled expectations
● Structure
○ Focus
● Timbre
○ Bright, smooth sax – funky
○ Round, deep double bass – calm
Major Minor
Performer
● Emotions contagious
● Movement
● Effort
● Incorporating aspects
○ Dynamics
○ Tempo
○ Touch
○ Phrasing
○ Articulation
● Individual interpretation
○ Different backgrounds
● Fluency
Audience
● Emotions created composition aspects +
performer skills
● Emotions contagious
○ Study (Dimberg, U., Thunberg, M., Elmehed, K.
2000) show pictures facial expression –
participants mimicked
○ Emotion of composer/performer mirror in audience
● Important group
○ Musicians want to move
○ First stage musician experience
Theories
● Arise of unfulfilled expectations
○ Anticipating what comes next
○ Study shows dopamine released most before climax
● Predictions
○ Based on previous music – templates
○ Better or worse than predicted
● Sexual selection
● Refer to real world images/experiences
○ Human voice
○ Expressive human movement
■ Stomping
■ Whistling
○ Early form communication
■ Staccato sounds – on edge
■ Descending tones – calming
○ Birdsong
○ Impressionism
My opinion
● Arise unfulfilled expectations
○ Only explain enjoyment
● Predictions
○ Only explain enjoyment
○ Repeated listening
● Sexual selection
○ Study show musicians nonsignificant mating
success
○ Why musical enjoyable?
● Refer to real world images/experiences
○ Logical
○ Explain different emotions
○ Evidence
○ Most plausible
Bibliography
● (2016, November 14). Music and emotion. Retrieved November 24, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_and_emotion#Philosophical_approaches

● Ahtisaari, M., Karanam, K. (2015, July 21). Music and Emotion. Retrieved
November 24, 2016, from
http://syncproject.co/blog/2015/7/21/music-and-emotion

● Saito, G. (2011, October 18). Why do the minor chords sound sad and major
chords happy? Retrieved November 24, 2016, from
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-the-minor-chords-sound-sad-and-major-chor
ds-happy
Bibliography
● Changizi, M. (2009, September 15). Why Does Music make Us Feel? Retreived
November 30, 2016, from
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-music-make-us-fe/
● Bykofsky, M. (2015, November 4). What’s Happening in Your Brain and Body
as You Listen to Music. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from
https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/what-s-happening-in-your-12914600658207
26.html
● Lehrer, J. (2011, January 19). The Neuroscience of Music. Retrieved
November 30, 2016, from
https://www.wired.com/2011/01/the-neuroscience-of-music/
Bibliography
● Hughes, V. (2013, April 11). Why Does Music Feel So Good? Retrieved
November 30, 2016, from
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/11/why-does-music-feel-s
o-good/
● Robson, D. (2015, September 18). Why music has a hotline to our emotions.
Retrieved Decemeber 2, 2016, from
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150918-why-music-has-a-hotline-to-our-
emotions
● Spencer, R. Playing With Emotion. Retrieved December 2, 2016, from
http://www.guitarnoise.com/lessons/playing-with-emotion/
Bibliography
● Mosing, M. A., Verweij, K. J. H. (2015, September). Did sexual selection shape
human music? Testing predictions from the sexual selection hypothesis of music
evolution using a large genetically informative sample of over 10,000 twins.
Retrieved Decemeber 4, 2016, from
http://www.ehbonline.org/article/S1090-5138(15)00022-7/abstract?cc=y=
● Music and Communication. Retrieved December 4, 2016, from
http://english-magazine.org/english-reading/english-for-culture/994-english-c
ulture