Using spatial analogy to determine musical parameters in algorithmic composition

• Main Author: Pounds, Michael S.
• Other Authors: Ball State University. School of Music.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence > Musical applications.; Computer music.; Computer algorithms.; Electronic music > History and criticism.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/185254; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/958778

This thesis presents a method of algorithmic composition in which the music is seen as motion through a multidimensional musical space. An analogy is drawn between physical space and musical space, each direction of the physical space corresponding to a musical parameter. A computer program was developed using the MAX programming environment to simulate the goaldirected motion of a mobile robot through an environment containing obstacles. The potential field method of mobile robot path planning was used. The program maps the location of the robot to musical parameters in the musical space. Based on the instantaneous values of the musical parameters, the program generates melodic material and transmits the resulting MIDI data to a synthesizer. For this research, the program was limited to three spatial dimensions and one obstacle. The program successfully created simple compositions consisting of large musical gestures. A model composition was created. Suggestions were made for further development and more elaborate applications of the method. === School of Music