Alessandri, E., Williamson, V.J., Eiholzer, H. et al. (1 more author) (2016) A Critical Ear: Analysis of Value Judgments in Reviews of Beethoven's Piano Sonata Recordings. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078
Abstract
What sets a great music performance apart? In this study we addressed this question through an examination of value judgements in written criticism of recorded performance. One hundred reviews of recordings of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, published in the Gramophone between 1934 and 2010, were analyzed through a three-step qualitative analysis that identified the valence (positive/negative) expressed by critics’ statements and the evaluation criteria that underpinned their judgements. The outcome is a model of the main evaluation criteria used by professional critics: aesthetic properties, including intensity, coherence, and complexity, and achievement-related properties, including sureness, comprehension, and endeavor. The model also emphasizes how critics consider the suitability and balance of these properties across the musical and cultural context of the performance. The findings relate directly to current discourses on the role of evaluation in music criticism and the generalizability of aesthetic principles. In particular, the perceived achievement of the performer stands out as a factor that drives appreciation of a recording.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016 Alessandri, Williamson, Eiholzer and Williamon. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Sheffield) > Department of Music (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number SWISS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 100016M_162819/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2016 16:54 |
Last Modified: | 24 May 2016 06:57 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00391 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Frontiers |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00391 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:96020 |