The contextual nature of rhythmic interpretation

Abstract

Five experiments investigated the rhythmic interpretation of polyrhythms that consisted of two or three conflicting pulse trains (e.g., three elements/repetition vs. four elements/repetition vs. five elements/repetition). The preferred rhythms were either meter rhythms, in which one pulse train served as the background controlling beat breaking the repetition (i.e., measure) into equal parts, or cross-rhythms, in which two or three pulse trains were integrated into a fore-ground melodic rhythm. The choice among various meter rhythms and various cross-rhythms was contextual, being based on the polyrhythm configuration, the timing between elements of each pulse train, the frequency of the elements of each pulse train, as well as the duration or intensity accentuation of the elements of each pulse train. In addition, there were consistent individual differences in strategies for rhythmic interpretation. The diversity of rhythmic interpretations occurs only with sufficiently dense stimuli, and both experimentation and theorizing must approach this level of complexity. © 1983 Psychonomic Society, Inc.