Importance of Note-Level Control in Automatic Music Performance

A summary is presented of recent studies on articulation in piano music performance together with the applications they originated. Emphasis is given to legato and staccato articulation. Results from measurements of performances recorded with MIDIfied grand pianos are summarized. Some rules for the simulation of articulation are presented and their application in renderings of emotional expressive performances is discussed. These rules can produce effects that reflect tempo indications in the score as well as the expressive intentions of the player. Also discussed is how the articulation rules can be applied to the control of sound synthesis algorithms and why music performance research is important to a wider range of applications connected to perception and human behavior.