This study investigated the relationship between expressivity variation and performances preference in the opinion of listeners, taking as study object undergraduate music students from FAMES. Assuming that an expressive performance and the listener's appreciation level are positively correlated, this paper submitted the students to three different performances of the same piece. Thus, each performance, previously considered by independent judges as having a high, medium and low expressivity, received a preference level given by each student, and the premise was evaluated. Students were also requested to indicate which musical aspects they consider preponderant on the construction of an expressive music performance. The results indicate a direct relation between the level of expressivity and the performance preference. About the musical aspects most related to musical expression, are confirmed the associations made by listeners between expressivity in musical performance and changes in dynamic, intensity, duration, time variation, articulation, timbre and time.
Expressivity; musical performance; musical preference
