[Harp-L] The McGurk Effect, (Michael Rubin)

["geoff atkins" <geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There's not a lot of harp played in Durban South Africa*, so any half-decent
player will get complimented quite often, -nice, if you believe it.

But I'm surprised at the great response given by the audience if the upper
registers are used in a solo:  Whistles, shouts, spontaneous applause seem
to be more frequent from hole 6 upwards.

My theory is that the listener equates the pitch with increasing difficulty,
as with say a saxophone, and thinks he's hearing "better" playing?

Similarly a slow wipe of notes gets response better than a rapid slur.

Anyone else noted this pitch effect, or that of the speed of playing?

Regards 
Geoff Atkins


* Cape Town in the deep South has a far higher standard set by a gent,
Dave Ferguson, who plays in a boutique Airstream 7-trailer park.


 
Michael Rubin wrote:
> ................... It brings to mind stage antics.  
> I have heard the argument that since stage antics do not
> affect your tone, we should not do them.  However, perhaps a type of
> McGurk effect occurs where the audience is fooled into hearing a
> greater solo than that which is actually played.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypd5txtGd...
> Michael Rubin   Michaelrubinharmonica.com