Understanding Schenkerian Analysis from the Perspective of Music Perception and Cognition

Abstract

This thesis investigates the perceptual and cognitive reality of Schenkerian theory through a survey of relevant empirical research. It reviews existing Schenkerian-specific empirical research, examines general tonal research applicable to Schenkerian analysis, and proposes the possibility of an optimal empirical research method by which to explore the theory. It evaluates data dealing with musical instruction’s effect on perception. From this review, reasonable evidence for the perceptual reality of Schenkerian-style structural levels is found to exist. This thesis asserts that the perception of Schenkerian analytical structures is largely an unconscious process.