Listening Spaces     The "Pyramid"

Popular Listening Spaces Music that complies to popular listening expectations will tend to have: Low dynamic bandwidth (main message can be understood also under noisy and otherwise disturbing or masking listening conditions) Common musical context (listener is familiar with style and similar pieces) Balanced level of information (no extreme changes of information flow, see Musical Information) The listener does not need to obtain additional information or to make any other special efforts for understanding the musical message.

Expert Listening Spaces Music that complies to expert listening conditions will allow: Events of lowest dynamics High density of information (parallel recognition of counterpoint, complex melodic events, readiness to capture a musical event "as is", etc.) Long lasting events that require introversion (recognition of slight sound differences, large spanning recognition of musical relations over huge time periods, deep reflection of past sound events during large breaks, etc.) This music requires also the readiness of the listener to obtain additional contextual information for understanding the background of the musical structure (genesis, related pieces, programmatic background, etc.).

"Pyramid" Listening Spaces Music that complies to "Pyramid" listening spaces includes different listening spaces at once. Having a surface level of most robust recognition at the broad basis of the communication pyramid (see entry motif of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony), this music includes also deeper levels that span expert listening spaces, requiring deep knowledge and experience in order to recognize the intended information (top of the pyramid). Music with "Pyramid" spaces tend to be highly adaptable to different listening communities, and being capable to expose different levels of meaning during its history of perception.

Ambient Music Music played for the purpose of background entertainment, such as cafe music, music played in shopping malls, while performing work, but also illustrative musical functions in video and movies, music of sound installations, etc. The perception is discontinuous, and the percepted fragments can appear in different order.

Travel Music Music played in the walkman, in cars. Relatively closed listening environment, but highly potential of disturbance through outer events (leads to discontinuous listening).

Home Music Music played from home equipment (CD, TV, PC, etc.) for the purpose of primary listening through boxes or headphones. Much higher dynamic bandwidth possible, but still potential of disturbance given (for example, telephone).

Music Exhibition Music played in public places for the purpose of primary listening (concerts and alike). Public conventions prevent from disturbance and allow for high dynamic bandwidth and continuous perception.

Sound Trips

Music can be utilized for something other than music, or something other than music, i.e., audio environment and listening conditions can be utilized for musical perception as final purpose. To deal with music as a self-contained piece of communication requires a minimum level in the listening space pyramid, and is characterized by the following conditions: Listener's readiness to continuous follow a musical stream for a certain period of time Sufficient level of quality of sound projection system and acoustical conditions Sufficient dynamic range Sufficient absence of acoustical disturbances Sufficient absence of other media that drive attraction away from the musical stream Provided these conditions, a listener's experience can be described as a "sound trip". Sound trip experiences are not a matter of media but a matter of listening behavior, including participation in instrumental concerts, as well as listening to audio records, sound installations, electronic sound tracks, and more. Cybermusic sound trips can be organized as "Guided Tours" through musical exhibitions, concerts, web meetings, etc.

RELATED TOPICS

Principle of Audio-Receptive Accumulation

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