Musical expression: an investigation of the theories of Erich Sorantin.

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Abstract
This experiment is an investigation of the theories of Sorantin, who has listed certain musical features which he believes to be suggestive of five different emotions. 6 musical passages written especially for the experiment and 14 passages selected from the classics were played on the piano to 100 subjects to ascertain whether the emotions suggested are those to be expected on the basis of the theories. Responses were made first without the aid of any check list of suggested emotions, and second with the assistance of such a list. Analysis of the results shows that Sorantin's theory for joy has a large element of truth, and the same may be said for lamentation in the case of passages which are free from certain distracting features. The theories involving hopeful longing, sorrowful longing, and love are less certain. Thus passages supposed to represent hopeful longing frequently called forth responses for joy. The sorrowful longing passages likewise suggested either lamentation or calm in many cases. Passages supposedly depicting love produced many replies under the headings joy, hopeful longing, sorrowful longing, and calm. Responses are in part a function of the check list, although no contradictory results were found after introducing the list. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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