On 28th September 2006, Casa Paganini organised a concert-experiment during the “Premio Paganini” International Violin Competition.
During the event, a combination of a concert and a scientific experiment, measurements and observations were made of emotional phenomena in music. The concert-experiment was organised by the University of Genoa, through InfoMus Lab – Casa Paganini, and by the City Council of Genoa. It was a public event connected with the Summer School of the European Humaine project which Casa Paganini – InfoMus Lab is a partner of (Network of Excellence, IST – Information Society Technologies project, 6th four-year Integrated Programme). Together with the staff of Casa Paganini - InfoMus Lab, the concert-experiment was attended by Ben Knapp and Roddy Cowie from Queens University of Belfast, Carol Krumhansl from Cornell University (USA) and the other Humaine partners participating in the Summer School (http://emotion-research.net). The performers were violinists Diana Jipa (semi-finalist of Premio Paganini), Chiara Noera, Lucia Marucci and Alessio Gabriele.
All the data collected from the audio, video and physiological measurements of the violinists (muscular activity of arms, heartbeat and breathing) were synchronised in real-time using the EyesWeb XMI software platform developed by InfoMus Lab. The experiment and measurements were illustrated and explained to the public during the event.
The results of the research performed during the concert-experiment, currently being processed by Humaine, will be presented to the public during a second concert-experiment in autumn 2007 during the Festival Paganiniana and the Festival of Science.

by Antonio Camurri                                                                                        www.casapaganini.org