Articulation Strategies in Expressive Piano Performance Analysis of Legato, Staccato, and Repeated Notes in Performances of the Andante Movement of Mozart’s Sonata in G Major (K 545)

Abstract

Articulation strategies applied by pianists in expressive performances of the same score are analysed. Measurements of key overlap time and its relation to the inter-onset-interval are collected for notes marked legato and staccato in the first sixteen bars of the Andante movement of W. A. Mozart’s Piano Sonata in G major, K 545. Five pianists played the piece nine times. First, they played in a way that they considered (optimal). In the remaining eight performances they were asked to represent different expressive characters, as specified in terms of different adjectives. Legato, staccato, and repeated notes articulation applied by the right hand were examined by means of statistical analysis. Although the results varied considerably between pianists, some trends could be observed. The pianists generally used similar strategies in the renderings intended to represent different expressive characters. Legato was played with a key overlap ratio that depended on the inter-onset-interval (IOI). Staccato tones had approximate duration of 40% of the IOI. Repeated notes were played with a duration of about 60% of the IOI. The results seem useful as a basis for articulation rules in grammars for automatic piano performance.