Exploration on the Relationship Between Emotional Expression and Musical Structure in Piano Performance

Abstract

This work analyzes the coexistence of nonverbal communication and the art of choreographed performances in granules using a piano. Through the use of case studies, computer aided methods and literature analysis, including the relevant legal cases, this study seeks to understand how certain elements of a song affect the portrayal of emotion and vice versa. The results indicate that the interplay or synergy between musical structure and emotional expression functions as dynamic dualism rather than a straightforward modeling of the constraint system. The authors argue that behavioral structures are not just a form of control but are also channels through which someone can express their emotions. By tracing a wide repertoire in the Classical and the Romantic periods, especially Mozart’s sonatas and Chopin’s nocturnes, the research illustrates how an accomplished pianist merges structural comprehension with the desire to convey an emotion. At the same time, it has been demonstrated how performance factors, such as dynamics, tempo, timbre, and pedaling, interact with structure factors: harmony, rhythm, melody, form. These outcomes are as much relevant to the practice of piano performance as to the technique of teaching it, advising performers how to form interpretations when both aspects are essential – structure and expressiveness. This study helps to elaborate theoretical insights relevant to piano playing and provides a direction for research within and beyond the education and performance of the instrument.