A biological rationale for musical consonance.
Publication
, Journal Article
Bowling, DL; Purves, D
Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
September 2015
The basis of musical consonance has been debated for centuries without resolution. Three interpretations have been considered: (i) that consonance derives from the mathematical simplicity of small integer ratios; (ii) that consonance derives from the physical absence of interference between harmonic spectra; and (iii) that consonance derives from the advantages of recognizing biological vocalization and human vocalization in particular. Whereas the mathematical and physical explanations are at odds with the evidence that has now accumulated, biology provides a plausible explanation for this central issue in music and audition.
Duke Scholars
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Published In
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
DOI
EISSN
1091-6490
ISSN
0027-8424
Publication Date
September 2015
Volume
112
Issue
36
Start / End Page
11155 / 11160
Related Subject Headings
- Sound
- Singing
- Pitch Perception
- Music
- Models, Theoretical
- Humans
- Auditory Perception
- Acoustics
- Acoustic Stimulation
Citation
APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Bowling, D. L., & Purves, D. (2015). A biological rationale for musical consonance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(36), 11155–11160. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1505768112
Bowling, Daniel L., and Dale Purves. “A biological rationale for musical consonance.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112, no. 36 (September 2015): 11155–60. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1505768112.
Bowling DL, Purves D. A biological rationale for musical consonance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2015 Sep;112(36):11155–60.
Bowling, Daniel L., and Dale Purves. “A biological rationale for musical consonance.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 112, no. 36, Sept. 2015, pp. 11155–60. Epmc, doi:10.1073/pnas.1505768112.
Bowling DL, Purves D. A biological rationale for musical consonance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2015 Sep;112(36):11155–11160.
Published In
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
DOI
EISSN
1091-6490
ISSN
0027-8424
Publication Date
September 2015
Volume
112
Issue
36
Start / End Page
11155 / 11160
Related Subject Headings
- Sound
- Singing
- Pitch Perception
- Music
- Models, Theoretical
- Humans
- Auditory Perception
- Acoustics
- Acoustic Stimulation