A single melodic line can be heard as several distinct voices by frequency grouping.

Evidence

Music in which grouping of notes together by frequency proximity produces the sensation of a number of parts being played, even though only a single line of music is being performed, includes works for solo instruments such as the Partitas and Sonatas for solo violin by J. S. Bach. An example of this effect is shown in Figure 5.14 from the Preludio from Partita number III in E major for solo violin by J. S. Bach (track 66 on the accompanying CD). The score (upper stave) and three parts usually perceived (lower stave) are shown, where the perceived parts are grouped by frequency proximity. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1627

Categorization

• XREF: Extends the auditory streaming/grouping principles established earlier in the book (Bregman-style auditory scene analysis) into the domain of musical texture. — connects to: A single performed melodic line can be heard as multiple simultaneous parts — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1668; The ear groups alternating notes into separate streams based on timbre differences.; Sound within one critical band is perceived as a single source — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1865 (+2 more)
• SHARE: A cellist or violinist would relish the tidbit that Bach’s solo violin writing was secretly multi-voiced — a single line that anatomizes into three.

Broader Connections

• A single performed melodic line can be heard as multiple simultaneous parts #expands (1.00) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1668
• Alternating timbres can split a single melodic line into separate perceived streams #exemplifies (1.00) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1629
• The ear groups alternating notes into separate streams based on timbre differences. #complicates (0.90)
• Hearing segregates sounds by frequency unless they fall within a critical band #complicates (0.90) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1029
• Sound within one critical band is perceived as a single source #complicates (0.85) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 1865