Statistical Analysis of the features of diatonic music using jMusic software
(2001) Statistical Analysis of the features of diatonic music using jMusic software. In Proceedings Computing ARTS 2001 – Digital resources for research in the Humanities, pages pp. 1-11, Sydney, Australia: The University of Sydney..
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Abstract
The use of computers for analysis of diatonic melodies can be useful in the identification of interesting features often unobservable with manual analysis and provides a vehicle for the comparative analysis of individual melodies or classes of melodies. This paper presents our work in melodic feature analysis based on simple rules of diatonic melody writing. Through the testing of these features against a data set of melodies from Western music history we show which features are closely or loosely adhered to by composers in practice. We also show how individual melodies can be compared against the norms to highlight interesting characteristics for further manual analysis. Our music analysis software described in this paper makes the task of feature analysis relatively effortless, and its graphical presentation of results enables efficient and multi-modal communication of the data. We outline the basic operation of this software and provide details enabling others to access and perhaps modify the software for their needs. For example, one area of extension would be the provision of correlation between features. The computer has proved to be useful tool in focussing our thinking about diatonic music (in particular melodic construction), assisting with the analysis of large data sets, and in clarifying heuristics for algorithmic computational music creation.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| RM Number: | 0020021782 |
| Status: | Published |
| Keywords: | statistical analysis, automation, music |
| Subjects: | 280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences > 280200 Artificial Intelligence and Signal and Image Processing > 280213 Other Artificial Intelligence 410000 The Arts > 410100 Performing Arts > 410101 Music |
| ID Code: | 7601 |
| Deposited By: | Towsey, Michael W. |
| Deposited On: | 17 July 2008 |
| Alternative Locations: | http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/drrh2001/ |
| Copyright Owner: | Copyright 2001 (please consult author) |
| Additional Information: | The contents of this conference can be freely accessed online via the conference's web page (see hypertext link). |