Fixed effect estimates on total G-MSI score.

Natural fluctuations in the timing sequence are essential for a dynamic and expressive rendition of music. Various studies have demonstrated the statistical structure of such timing fluctuations in solo music performances and listeners’ ability to perceive them. However, the listening ability of timing structures in ensemble performances involving multiple players remains unclear despite its importance in understanding actual music skills. Here, we assessed listeners’ ability to distinguish the statistics of timing variations that resembled mutual adaptations between a pair of tapping players as a simplified example of ensemble performance. We created sound stimuli in which the drum-tapping timing sequences fluctuated either cooperatively among the pair or randomly using a generative model for synchronized pair tapping. Listing tests to discriminate between these stimuli, and a questionnaire on music experience and sophistication were conducted as a web-based experiment. Consequently, a trend was observed where participants with ensemble experience could discriminate between stimuli, whereas participants without ensemble experience could not. This discrimination ability did not correlate with the musical sophistication index. These results suggest that listeners with a certain music experience, particularly those involved in ensemble performances, can perceive the individuality of each player and the coordination between them based on the timing sequence structure.

时序的自然波动对于音乐富有动感与表现力的演绎至关重要。多项研究已证实，独奏音乐演奏中此类时序波动具备统计结构，且听众能够感知这类波动。然而，尽管理解多演奏者的合奏时序结构对掌握实际音乐演奏技能至关重要，但听众对这类结构的感知能力仍未明确。本研究以一对敲击演奏者的相互适配模式作为简化的合奏表演范例，评估了听众区分此类时序波动统计特征的能力。我们基于同步双人敲击生成模型，构建了两类声音刺激：其中一组的鼓击时序在双人之间呈现协同波动，另一组则为随机波动。本研究通过网络实验开展了两项任务：一是对上述两类刺激进行鉴别测试，二是收集关于音乐演奏经历与音乐素养的问卷数据。实验结果显示出一项趋势：具备合奏演奏经历的参与者能够区分两类刺激，而无合奏经历的参与者则无法做到。该鉴别能力与音乐素养指数并无相关性。上述结果表明，具备一定音乐演奏经历、尤其是参与过合奏表演的听众，能够通过时序结构感知每位演奏者的独特性以及演奏者之间的协作配合。