Performance of musical rhythm in 3/4 and 6/8 meter

Monophonic performances of 15 melodies in 3/4 or 6/8 meter were analyzed according to previously described methods (Bengtsson & Gabrielsson, 1980) to test the hypothesis that live performance of musical rhythm is characterized by various systematic variations (SYVAR) as regards the duration of the sound events in relation to strict mechanical regularity. The results show many different types of SYVAR, varying with music and/or performers but with certain recurring features. at the sound event level as well as at the beat, half‐measure and measure levels. It is pointed out that these results should be supplemented by data in other performance variables, and that there probably are certain basic relationships between SYVAR and different aspects of the rhythm response to be further investigated.