The Study of Syncopation Using Inner Metric Analysis: Linking Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Metre in Music
Anja Volk · Journal of New Music Research · 2008
This paper investigates the influence of syncopation on the metric structure of musical pieces using the computational model of Inner Metric Analysis. Inner Metric Analysis generates metric hierarchies evoked by the note onsets of a piece. Syncopation in the rhythmic structure influences these hierarchies in different ways. The comparison of local and global perspectives on the metric structure allows one to distinguish between different amounts of syncopation present in a musical piece. This paper shows that the study of syncopation using Inner Metric Analysis contributes to explaining tapping performances of listeners. Hence comparing the structural descriptions generated by the model to results of a listening experiment helps to link music theoretic and perceptual studies.