Why live recording sounds better: a case study of Schumann's Traumerei.

ABSTRACT: We explore the concept that artists perform best in front of an audience. The negative effects of performance anxiety are much better known than their related cousin on the other shoulder: the positive effects of "social facilitation." The present study, however, reveals a listener's preference for performances recorded in front of an audience. In Study 1, we prepared two types of recordings of Träumerei performed by 13 pianists: recordings in front of an audience and those with no audience. According to the evaluation by 153 listeners, the recordings performed in front of an audience sounded better, suggesting that the presence of an audience enhanced or facilitated the performance. In Study 2, we analyzed pianists' durational and dynamic expressions. According to the functional principal

SUBMITTER: Shoda H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4288287 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature