Vocal pop pleasures. Theoretical, analytical and empirical approaches to voice and singing in popular music <br> doi:10.5429/2079-3871(2010)v1i1.7en

Authors

  • Martin Pfleiderer Franz Liszt School of Music Weimar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5429/301

Keywords:

Voice, singing, methodology, emotions, personality, psychology

Abstract

Voices and vocal expression play a crucial role in popular music. Voices are linked immediately to the human body and various affective states. But vocal expression could be conventionalized and conventionalized and manipulated deliberately by the learned cultural patterns of expression too -- in everyday speach as well as in music. Two approaches to investigate voice and singing in popular music are outlined: Firstly, an analytical approach is illustrated by a characterization of a vocal performance by Ray Charles, using transcriptions and spectrograms. Secondly, an empirical approach to the effects of vocal performances is illustrated by listeners surveys asking for ascriptions of emotions and personality traits to music excerpts.

Author Biography

Martin Pfleiderer, Franz Liszt School of Music Weimar

Born 1967, studied musicology, philosophy and sociology; 1999-2005 assistant lecturer for systematic musicology at Hamburg university; 2007-08 substitute professor for theory, aesthetics and history of popular music at Paderborn university; Lecturer at Universities of Hamburg, Basel and Krems Since 2009 professor for the history of jazz and popular music at department for musicology Weimar/Jena of Franz Liszt school of music Weimar (Reviewing interests see above)

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Published

08-04-2010

Issue

Section

Articles – Open Section