ABSTRACT

This chapter considers the evidence that both dynamical entrainment and co-representation contribute to successful coordination in ensemble performance. Dynamical entrainment and co-representation both aid musicians to coordinate musical expressiveness at multiple temporal and spatial scales. The quality of interpersonal coordination within the spatial and temporal hierarchies is subject to individual, collective, and informational constraints on the processes of entrainment and co-representation. Three classes of constraints affect the dynamics of interpersonal coordination: individual, collective, and informational. Musicians with high levels of empathy are particularly good at predicting the timing of co-performers' actions. Different roles within an ensemble can affect the type and quality of coordination that occurs among members. Complexity of the musical material can also influence the global timing of a performance both in solo and duet performances. The majority of empirical research on ensembles considers piano duos. Informational constraints affect the directionality of the couplings and adaptations among musicians.