ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS: ANALYSIS OF PERFORMED TRANSITIONS

Abstract

This study concerns the transition between notes as performed by professional (classical) musicians. Nine instruments (flute, piccolo, bass flute, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, trumpet, violin, cello) were recorded. On each instrument, the performer used two playing styles (such as with or without bow change) to connect notes spanning a variety of intervals from major second to minor seventh, ascending and descending. The time-varying spectrum and time-varying power of each transition was analyzed. The resulting data were analyzed to provide insight into performed transitions.