An Introduction to Music Analysis with Computer

Abstract

The computer is widely used as an analytical tool. Most obviously in business where spreadsheets are routinely used to track and forecast financial and inventory details. While there is are a small group of dedicated musicologists working with computing tools for musical analysis, the computer is more commonly used by musicians for sequencing, recording, or publishing. Musical analysis can be aided by the computer using those same sequencing, recording and publishing tools to capture and examine music in familiar notations. Statistically analyse music can be achieved by converting music to numbers and utilising the comprehensive resources of spreadsheets. Specialized programs music for analysis do exist, some of which will be mentioned below. They perform specific functions directly related to musicological theories. This article introduces the issues and tools of musical analysis with computers, exploring the potential and sign-posting the pitfalls.