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MacLeod, R. B. (2006). Influences of Dynamic Level and Pitch Height on the Vibrato Rates and Widths of Violin and Viola Players. Retrieved from http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-2808
The purpose of this study was to investigate possible influences of pitch height and dynamic level on vibrato rates and widths of university and high school violin and viola players. Forty-eight musicians (12 each of university violin, high school violin, university viola, and high school viola students) were recorded individually performing: a scale passage in low and high pitch registers, a musical excerpt in low and high pitch registers, a scale passage performed with piano and forte dynamic levels, and a musical excerpt performed with piano and forte dynamic levels. Analysis showed that pitch height significantly affected the vibrato rates and widths of the performers. Musicians vibrated .32 Hz faster and approximately 26 cents wider during high tones than during low tones. Dynamic level also significantly affected vibrato width. Performers increased vibrato width approximately 4 cents in the forte passages compared to the piano passages. In the scale passages, an increase in dynamic level corresponded to an increase in vibrato rate, but this increase in rate was not present during the musical excerpts. Violinists demonstrated a tendency to vibrate slightly faster and wider than violists. A significant interaction occurred between instrument type and pitch height for vibrato width. In the high pitch register, violinists vibrated 13 cents wider than did violists. No significant differences were found between the vibrato rates of high school and university performers, however a significant difference was found between the high school and university performers' vibrato widths during the piano and forte passages. University performers varied their vibrato width to a greater extent between the piano and forte passages (5 cents) than did the high school performers (2 cents). In the low register musical excerpts, musicians vibrated significantly faster (.26 Hz) than in the low register scale passages. University musicians produced a significantly wider vibrato in the musical excerpts compared to the scale passages (6 cents), while high school musicians' widths did not differ between the two.
Dynamics, Viola, Violin, Effect of Range, Effect of Pitch Height, Vibrato
Date of Defense
April 26, 2006.
Submitted Note
A Dissertation submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Bibliography Note
Includes bibliographical references.
Advisory Committee
John M. Geringer, Professor Directing Dissertation; Richard Morris, Outside Committee Member; Michael L. Allen, Committee Member; Clifford K. Madsen, Committee Member.
Publisher
Florida State University
Identifier
FSU_migr_etd-2808
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MacLeod, R. B. (2006). Influences of Dynamic Level and Pitch Height on the Vibrato Rates and Widths of Violin and Viola Players. Retrieved from http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-2808