Onduration

Onduration is a term used in musicology and acoustics to describe the perceived duration of a sound event. It is distinct from the physical duration of a sound wave, which is measurable in seconds. Onduration takes into account subjective factors such as the listener's perception of when a sound begins and ends, as well as the decay and sustain characteristics of the sound itself. For instance, a piano note that has a physically long decay might be perceived as having a shorter onduration due to the listener's attention shifting or the sound blending with subsequent events.

The concept of onduration is important in analyzing musical phrasing and articulation. Composers and performers manipulate onduration to create rhythmic effects, expressiveness, and clarity within a musical passage. For example, a staccato note has a very short onduration, while a sustained note has a longer perceived duration. Differences in onduration can also arise from variations in timbre, loudness, and context. A sudden loud sound might seem to have a longer onduration than a quiet sound of the same physical length, simply because it captures the listener's attention more forcefully. Understanding onduration helps in appreciating the nuances of musical performance and the psychological aspects of auditory perception.