Striking movements : movement strategies and expression in percussive playing

Abstract: This thesis concerns two aspects of movement and performancein percussion playing, First, the playing of an accent, asimple but much used and practised element in drumming, andsecond; the perception and communication of specific emotionalintentions through movements during performances onmarimba.Papers I and II investigated the execution andinterpretation of an accent performed for different playingconditions. Players' movements, striking velocities and timingpatterns were studied for different tempi, dynamic levels andstriking surfaces. It was found that the players used differingmovement strategies when playing and that they interpreted theaccent differently, something that was reflected in theirmovement trajectories. Strokes at greater dynamic levels wereplayed from a greater height and with higher strikingvelocities. All players initiated the accented strokes from agreater height, and delivered the accent with increasedstriking velocity compared to unaccented strokes. The intervalbeginning with the accented stroke was also prolonged,generally by delaying the following stroke. Recurrent cyclicpatterns were found in the players' timing performances. In alistening test listeners perceived the strokes groupedaccording to the cyclic patterns.Paper III studied how emotional intent was conveyed toobservers through the movements of a marimba player. Apercussionist was filmed when playing a piece with theexpressive intentions Happiness, Sadness, Anger and Fear onmarimba. Observers rated the emotional content and movementcues in the videos clips shown without sound. Results showedthat the observers were able to identify the intentionsSadness, Anger, and Happiness, but not Fear. The rated movementcues showed that an Angry performance was characterized bylarge, fast, uneven and jerky movements, Happy performances bylarge, somewhat fast movements, and Sad performances by small,slow, even, and smooth movements.Keywords:drumming, percussion, movement strategies,instrument interaction, timing, accent, movement cues emotionalexpression, gesture.