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ARTIGOS

Vol. 14 (2026): Percepta - Revista de Cognição Musical

Between Perception and Semantics:: A Discourse Analysis of the Narrative of Timbre in Orchestration Treatises

DOI
https://doi.org/10.34018/2318-891X.14e026002
Submitted
March 20, 2026
Published
2026-08-05

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of metaphor in the perception of timbre, based on a
comparative analysis of four treatises on orchestration. First, it presents a literature
review of studies on timbral lexicon, the Theory of Conceptual Metaphor, and
psychoacoustics. Methodologically, Discourse Analysis is used to contrast the lexicon
in the treatises by Berlioz (1843/1882), Rimsky-Korsakov (1913), Piston (1955), and Adler (1986/2016), cross-referencing them with writings by composers contemporary
to each treatise. The transverse flute is adopted as the focal instrument of the corpus.
The results demonstrate that the retreat of subjective descriptors over time is linked to
the decline of romantic narratives, favouring an objective style of writing that,
nevertheless, remains intrinsically metaphorical. It is concluded that timbre continues
to be understood through the mediation of metaphor, moving between poetry and
science and opening a fertile field for musical creation. As a follow-up, we suggest
applying this methodology to other instrumental groups and analysing works in light of
the semantic dimensions identified in the treatises and research of their respective
eras.

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