Tonal Consonance versus Tonal Fusion

Interval "preference" in J.S. Bach (Huron, 1991)



Multiple Regression: Avoidance of tonal fusion: 45% of variance
Avoidance of dissonance: 45% of variance
R 2 = 89% of variance (virtually no overlap)


One interpretation: Sounding smooth without sounding as one.

Another interpretation: Sounding consonant.