Re: Q: Shifts in perceived time with spectral changes?

[Pierre Divenyi <pdivenyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Was wondering if anyone knew of some research / evil
experiments
>dealing with perceived time stretching/condensing with certain
>patterns of sounds with differing spectra? More specifically, I
>am interested in any local-micro-tempo-curve deviations that
>might be experienced with various percussive sounds.
>For instance, if we play a standard Ump-Sss-Ump-Sss-Ump-Sss
>disco beat at some poor devil, do they feel any temporal
attraction
>between the Sss-Ump as opposed to the Ump-Sss?
>(assuming perfect sequencer time here.)

Long time ago, I did my thesis work on the question of whether melodic
context had an influence on the perception of thythmic regularity. The
basic paradigm consisted of a three-tone "micro-melody" in
which the first two tones had one frequency and the last another. The
basic result was that, yes, context did have an effect, with better
regularity discrimination when the frequencies were close to one another
(=streaming-like effect) or when the frequency ratio corresponded to a
"dissonant", rather than a "consonant" (=M3, p4, p8)
musical interval. If you have a good libray, you may be able to find this
work published as a monograph in a now-defunct series -- the reference is
given below.

        

Pierre

Divenyi, P. L.  (1971).  The
rhythmic perception of micromelodies: Detectability by human observers of
a time increment between sinusoidal pulses of two different, successive
frequencies.  In E. Gordon (Ed.), University of Iowa Studies in
the Psychology of Music, Vol. VII., (pp. 41-130).  Iowa City:
The University of Iowa Press.