Еуген Нармурдың мелодиялық күту моделі және музыкалық талдау

The Implication Realization (I R) model of melodic expectation was developed by Eugene Narmour as an alternative to Schenkerian analysis centered less on music analysis and more on cognitive aspects of expectation. The model is one of the most significant modern theories of melodic expectation, going into great detail about how certain melodic structures arouse particular expectations.

Meyer (1956) applied Gestalt psychology principles to musical expectation, resulting in his ideas about completion, closure, and his Law of Good Continuation. In 1977, Narmour's book explicated problems he had with Schenkerian analysis and sketched ideas for a new model of analysis based on musical expectation as informed by the work of Meyer. Narmour mentioned a forthcoming book, The Melodic Structure of Tonal Music, but it did not appear. Much time passed without the alternative theory, but finally in 1989 Narmour published his I R model, detailed in the 1990 and 1992 books. As of 2007, Narmour is working on a new book, which will extend the I R theory to the parameters of harmony and rhythm and explore potential applications to the analysis of performance.

Narmour's I R model was published in two separate books, dealing with "basic melodic structures" and "melodic complexity". Each book is quite complex; only a few key points are mentioned here. The Music Perception review by Ian Cross and the article by Schellenberg provide introductions to the theory.

This is the melodic archetype aba or aba\' where the second tone of a realized interval is very similar to the original pitch (within 2 semitones). This archetype describes symmetric or near symmetric patterns such as C G C#. Patterns are less archetypical as they deviate more from this symmetry.

Small realized intervals are more implied than large intervals. Also, implications are stronger for smaller sized intervals.

Closure describes how listeners segment melodies based on pitch direction and interval size. Closure occurs in two cases:
Melody changes direction. That is, implicative and realized intervals are in different directions. A larger implicative interval is followed by a smaller realized interval.