Given the extensive instrumental resources afforded by an orchestra, why would a composer elect to feature a single solo instrument? In this study we explore one possible use of solos—that of conveying or enhancing a sad affect. Orchestral passages were identified from an existing collection and categorized as solos or non-solos. Independently, the passages were characterized on seven other features previously linked to sad affect, including mode, tempo, dynamics, articulation, rhythmic smoothness, relative pitch height, and pitch range. Using the first four factors, passages were classified into nine previously defined expressive categories. Passages containing acoustic features associated with the “sad/relaxed” expressive category were twice as likely to employ solo texture. Moreover, a regression model incorporating all factors significantly predicted solo status. However, only two factors (legato articulation, quiet dynamics) were significant individual predictors. Finally, with the notable exception of string instruments, we found a strong correlation ( ρ = .88) between the likelihood that a solo is assigned to a given instrument and an independent scale of the capacity of that instrument for expressing sadness. Although solo instrumentation undoubtedly serves many other functions, these results are consistent with a significant though moderate association between sadness-related acoustic features and solo textures.

中文翻译：

---

孤独的乐器

鉴于乐团提供了广泛的乐器资源，作曲家为什么会选择演奏一首独奏乐器？在这项研究中，我们探索了独奏的一种可能用法，即传达或增强悲伤的情感。从现有收藏中识别出管弦乐段落，并将其分类为独奏或非独奏。独立地，通道的特征是以前与悲伤的情感相关的其他七个特征，包括模式，节奏，动力学，清晰度，节奏流畅性，相对音高和音高范围。使用前四个因素，段落被分为九个先前定义的表达类别。包含与“悲伤/放松”表现类别相关的声学特征的段落采用独奏纹理的可能性是其两倍。此外，包含所有因素的回归模型可以显着预测独奏状态。但是，只有两个因素（连奏连贯性，安静的动力）是重要的个体预测因子。最后，除了弦乐器外，我们发现独奏被分配给给定乐器的可能性与该乐器表达悲伤的能力的独立标度之间具有很强的相关性（ρ= .88）。尽管独奏乐器无疑具有许多其他功能，但这些结果与悲伤相关的声学特征和独奏纹理之间的显着但适度的关联是一致的。我们发现，将独奏分配给给定乐器的可能性与该乐器表达悲伤的能力的独立标度之间存在很强的相关性（ρ= .88）。尽管独奏乐器无疑具有许多其他功能，但这些结果与悲伤相关的声学特征和独奏纹理之间的显着但适度的关联是一致的。我们发现，将独奏分配给给定乐器的可能性与该乐器表达悲伤的能力的独立标度之间存在很强的相关性（ρ= .88）。尽管独奏乐器无疑具有许多其他功能，但这些结果与悲伤相关的声学特征和独奏纹理之间的显着但适度的关联是一致的。