Tension (music)

In music, tension is the anticipation music creates in a listener's mind for relaxation or release. For example, tension may be produced through reiteration, increase in dynamic level, gradual motion to a higher or lower pitch, or (partial) syncopations between consonance and dissonance.[1]

Experiments in music perception have explored perceived tension in music [2] and perceived emotional intensity.[3][4]

The balance between tension and repose are explored in musical analysis—determined by contrasts that are, "...of great interest to the style analyst," and can be analyzed in several, even conflicting layers—as different musical elements such as harmony may create different levels of tension than rhythm and melody.[5]

Heavy metal and rock musicians adapted tension-building techniques originally developed by classical composers. Van Halen has been noted for incorporating harmonic tension and release in the guitar solo Eruption:"Van Halen continually sets up implied harmonic goals, and then achieves, modifies, extends or subverts them...ringing harmonics and gradual fade make this an ambiguous closure".[6] Music that alternates quiet-loud-quiet like Joseph Haydn's so-called "Surprise Symphony" attempted to create tension through dynamics variation.[7] Emphasis on music accent is a tension and anticipation building device seen in heavy metal that was typical of Stravinsky.[8]

  1. ^ Kliewer, Vernon (1975). "Melody: Linear Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music", Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music, p. 290. Wittlich, Gary (ed.). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-049346-5.
  2. ^ Fredrickson, W. E. (1999). "Effect of Musical Performance on Perception of Tension in Gustav Holst's First Suite in E-flat", Journal of Research in Music Education, 47(1), 44–52.
  3. ^ Brittin, R. V., & Duke, R. A. (1997). "Continuous versus Summative Evaluations of Musical Intensity: A Comparison of Two Methods for Measuring Overall Effect", International Journal of Research in Music Education, 45(2), 245–258.
  4. ^ Sloboda, J. A., & Lehmann, A. C. (2001). "Tracking Performance Correlates of Changes in Perceived Intensity of Emotion During Different Interpretations of a Chopin Piano Prelude", Music Perception, 19(1), 87–120.
  5. ^ White, John D. (1976). The Analysis of Music, p.15. ISBN 0-13-033233-X.
  6. ^ Walser, Robert (1992). "Heavy Metal Appropriations of Classical Virtuosity". Popular Music. 11 (3): 276.
  7. ^ Burnsed, Vernon; Sochinsky, James (1998). "The relationship between dynamics and tension in Haydn's symphony 104: A developmental study". Psychomusicology: A Journal of Research in Music Cognition. 2.
  8. ^ Eliza (2021-09-08). "Did Stravinsky inspire the great rock musicians?". Retrieved 2024-08-20.