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Updated: May 13, 2026
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fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals
Published on: May 23, 2017
Intonation and expressivity: a single case study of classical western singing
Johan Sundberg1, Filipa M B Lã, Evangelos Himonides
1Department of Speech, Music and Hearing, School of Computer Science and Communication, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden. pjohan@speech.kth.se
Summary
Singers sharpen phrase-peak tones for musical expressivity. Comparing original and equally tempered tuning (ETT) versions, musicians preferred the original, confirming intonation enhances performance expressivity.
Area of Science:
- Music Performance
- Acoustic Phonetics
- Psychoacoustics
Background:
- Singers often deviate from equal temperament tuning (ETT).
- Phrase-peak tones in singing are frequently observed to be sharper than ETT.
- This deviation's function, particularly for expressivity, remains an area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that sharpened phrase-peak tones enhance musical expressivity in singing.
- To investigate the role of intonation in perceived performance expressivity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fundamental frequency (F0) in vocal recordings of a baritone singing neutral and expressive excerpts.
- Comparison of F0 with ETT, focusing on phrase-peak tones.
- Manipulation of recordings to flatten sharp phrase-peak tones to ETT using Melodyne software.
- A listening test where musicians compared original and manipulated versions for expressivity.
Main Results:
- Phrase-peak tones were significantly sharper in expressive (Concert) versions compared to neutral versions and ETT.
- Musician panel consistently preferred the original, expressive versions over the ETT-flattened versions.
- This preference indicates that deviations from ETT, specifically sharpened phrase-peak tones, contribute to perceived expressivity.
Conclusions:
- Sharpened phrase-peak tones in singing serve as a significant element of musical expressivity.
- Intonation choices, beyond precise adherence to equal temperament, are crucial for conveying emotional and artistic intent in vocal performance.
- The study provides empirical support for the artistic use of intonation in music.
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