The aims of this study were to examine how listeners judge musical unity and whether
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Participants listened to 15 piano solos. Five were not altered. Ten were altered by
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section three times in succession. Although their unity ratings for the 15
compositions were similar, trained and untrained participants focused on different
aspects of the music. When judging unity, musically trained participants focused on
repetition, themes/motifs, transitions, endings, and contrast providing overall
balance. Untrained participants focused on pitch contour and range, tempo, mood, and
pauses when judging musical unity. Although participants were not aware that any
compositions had been altered, both groups were sensitive to varying degrees of
repetition and variety in altered and unaltered compositions as shown in their unity
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