David Huron
Psychology Department, Ohio State University.
May 21, 2003
Over the centuries musicians have endeavored to create works that engage and stir human audiences. The principles underlying the design of such sound artifacts have been largely intuitive and unconscious, and the results have not always been successful. For example, at the beginning of the 20th century, composer Arnold Schoenberg pioneered a novel system of composition that has failed to attract an audience. Schoenberg believed that people would be whistling tunes from his music while walking down the streets. However, Schoenberg's "12-tone method" of composition is not well suited to human memory. The key to creating truly novel systems of music and sound is understanding human nature. Cognitive research in music is helping to provide such a foundational knowledge. This research has the potential to better inform future composers and sound designers.