ISSN 2526-3757
MusMat • Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics
MusMat Journal is now continuous flow.
Check it out the first paper of Vol. VII 2023.
The MusMat Research Group is pleased to announce that the MusMat • Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics is now a continuous-flow publication. From now on, we will publish articles as long as we accept them in the peer-blind review throughout the year. In December, we will release a compiled version containing all articles published during that year. The first publication in this format is Music as a Carbon Language: Clarifying Methods, Results, Fresh Data, and Perspectives by Gabriel Pareyon.
Enjoy the reading!
Check it out the MusMat Journal Vol. VI, No. 2!
The MusMat Research Group is pleased to announce the publication of this new issue of the MusMat • Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics. The second number of our sixth volume is composed of four papers. The edition opens with “Contextual Dyadic Transformations, and the Opening of Brahms’s Op. 5 as a Variation of the Opening of Schumann’s Op. 14”, a paper by Scott Murphy where he discusses, from a group-theoretical perspective, Schumann’s influence on Brahms’s compositional style, by showing that the latter’s opening of his Op. 5 is a variation of the former’s opening of his respective Op. 14. Following, we have the paper “Python Scripts for Rhythmic Partitioning Analysis”, by Marcos da Silva Sampaio and Pauxy Gentil-Nunes, in which they present a Python implementation of the software Parsemat, initially implemented in MatLab/Octave programming languages and extremely helpful to perform rhythmic partitioning analysis. Moreover, the authors also expand Parsemat by adding access to measure indications of each partition, annotation of texture information into digital scores, and many other features. Next, we have a paper on a topic also discussed in the MusMat 2022 Conference, “On Xenakis’s Games of Musical Strategy”, by Stefano Kalonaris. This work discusses Xenakis’ pieces based on zero-sum games (Duel, Stratégie, and Linaia-Agon), and reveals axiomatic inconsistencies between the game-theoretical model and the musical implementations biased toward the composer’s aesthetic preference. Finally, we close this issue with a paper by Charles Ames, “Building a Knowledge Base of Rhythms”, that proposes a software to create, store, and access rhythmic patterns formed by rests, attacks, and ties for compositional purposes. He also demonstrates his program in several examples and creates parallels with several of his previous pioneering tools on computer-assisted composition. Enjoy the reading!
MusMat Journal Vol. VI, No. 1 is now available!
This year, the MusMat Research Group is completing 10 years of its existence, and we are very delighted to celebrate it with the release of this very special issue of the MusMat • Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics. Being aware of the greatness of the Latin America culture and its contrasting underrepresentation in the academic scenario, we devoted most of this issue to contribute and stimulate research on Music and Mathematics in our subcontinent. The first paper, by Gabriel Pareyon, is an exciting text on three questions about the anthropological and historical foundations for the indigenous relationships of Music and Mathematics in Latin America, where deep connections between both subjects are traced to the very historical roots of our culture. The second paper is an extensive (but not exhaustive) overview on the major developments of research on Music and Mathematics in Latin America in the last 25 years, made by a joint effort between the MusMat Group, Gabriel Pareyon and the fellow researchers that contributed with information regarding their respective countries, regions, and research groups. This is the first comprehensive overview on the research on Music and Mathematics in Latin America, and we hope that its publication stimulates similar initiatives. From now on, the MusMat Journal will dedicate a section to publish information with similar content: so, feel free to submit a document about your research group, region, or country, if you think this information is missing here. The third text on this issue is a compendium on the activities of the MusMat Group on the last 10 years, as well as current activities and future perspectives. Finally, we close this number presenting an interview with Richard Cohn, an outstanding researcher that published a paper in the first number of the MusMat Journal. We hope that the publication of this issue stimulates students and researchers to dive into this fascinating intersection of fields. Enjoy the reading!
MusMat Journal Vol. V, No. 2 is now available!
We are glad to announce the release of the second number of the fifth volume of MusMat – Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics. This issue presents five original articles discussing different aspects of the intersection between Music and Mathematics. Juan Sebastián Arias-Valero, Octavio Alberto Agustín-Aquino, and Emilio Lluis-Puebla present a theoretical description of a model based on the generalization of first-species counterpoint considering arbitrary rings, which results in a broader mathematical theory for contrapuntal intervals. Carlos Mathias and Carlos Almada introduce an original proposal to encode timelines as univocal integers by using arithmetic mapping so that drum-set timelines are encoded by using Gödel’s Numbering algorithm. Paul Lombardi presents an interesting discussion on feathered beams, examining their concept and notation to propose a graphing system to deconstruct them using examples from George Crumb’s Night Music I. Hugo Carvalho proposes a new tool for performing time-frequency analysis on audio signals, the probabilistic spectrogram, that may allow for probabilistic interpretations related to the Discrete Fourier Transform and also the creation of new features for audio signal processing and music information retrieval. Finally, Juan Sebastián Arias-Valero and Emilio Lluis-Puebla present a specific and didactic application for gestural presheaves in the language of abstract gestures, dealing specifically with the relation thereof to the Yoneda embedding and Mazzola’s idea and gestural sheaves, demonstrating the application in Mozart and Beethoven. In this issue, we are also glad to inaugurate a new section with an interview with Severine Neff, discussing her work on Schoenberg’s music and theory.
Click here to see this issue.MusMat Journal Vol. V, No. 1 is released!
The MusMat Research Group is very pleased to announce the release of the first number of the fifth volume of MusMat • Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics. This issue comprises seven exciting papers, that present the results of original and innovative research in the field. The number opens with a work by Robert Peck, where he applies the Power Group Enumeration Theorem to extend the theory of beat-class sets by also considering rhythms with more than one voice. Next, Gideon Effiong shows how quasigroups can be used as a unifying framework to describe musical objects and events, such as chord inversions, n-tone composition charts, and melodic motions. Ciro Visconti then discusses how graph theory can be used to describe all classes of trichords and tetrachords in Neo-Riemannian theory, expanding beyond triads and seventh chords. Francisco Aragão presents an application of Kripke Semantics to identify if a sequence of chords constitutes or not a tonal progression, which can be used to create a software to benefit students that do not have easy access to a harmony teacher. Subsequently, Juan Sebastián Arias-Valero and Emilio Lluis-Puebla develop deep relations and philosophical reflections between Gesture Theory and Category Theory. Next, Silvio Ferraz describes a series of patches in Max/MSP environment tailored to aid musical analysis and composition and exemplifies it with the composition of a piece based on Brahms Op. 119. The issue closes with Daniel Moreira introducing the concept of compositional entropy, which deals with the amount of freedom of a composer when dealing with compositional choices, and such a concept is demonstrated in musical texture.
MusMat Research Group releases the Vol. IV, No. 2 of MusMat Journal!
We are glad to announce the release of the second number of the fourth volume of MusMat – Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics. Six original articles integrate this number. Marco Feitosa introduces the concept of Partitional Harmony, an original field of research that relates the Theory of Integer Partitions to several fields of Post-Tonal Theory. Robert Morris provides an in-depth analysis of Feldman’s Last Pieces for piano solo, bringing to light information that can help the pianists perform the cancelling effect requested by the composer. Gabriel Pareyon combines Matthai philosophy with Category Theory, using Yoneda lemma, suggesting that the latter can support a robust philosophy of music within the scope of Category Theory. Robert Peck investigates the inversion operation, in terms of cycles, and its application to a dramaturgical context, through the examination of the Aristotelian concept of peripeteia, as observable in Birtwistle’s opera Punch and Judy. Paulo de Tarso Salles explores Forte’s Genera Theory (as well as other proposals that deal with similarities between pitch-class sets) and demonstrates the application of this theory in some works by Villa-Lobos. Pauxy Gentil-Nunes discusses the Partitioning Complexes and their application in musical practice by examining three situations: textural planning in the context of compositional processes, observation of the relationship between textural configurations and coupling of the body (Performative Partitioning), and Spatial Partitioning.
The Vol. IV, No. 1 of MusMat Journal was released!
It is with great satisfaction that the MusMat Group announces the release of the first number of the fourth volume of MusMat – Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics. Five very interesting articles integrate this number, covering diversified aspects from the rich confluence of musical and mathematical subjects. A study by Scott Murphy opens the issue, presenting an original approach of commmontime meter, based on the properties of the correlate functions of metric weight and onset frequency. Jean-Pierre Briot examines deep-learning theory and techniques under the standpoint of autoencoder architectures, used for enhancing the compression of information for musical composition. Liduino Pitombeira presents a quite comprehensive survey concerning compositional systems, including the processes related to systemic modeling. Arthur Kampela discusses profoundly the processes associated with the Micro-Metric Modulation theory. Marianthi Bozabalidou addresses the theory of general scale systems through the prisms of algebraic groups, which involves the ideas of counterpoint groups and counterpoint spaces.
Vol. III, No. 2 was released!
The second number of third volume of MusMat: Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics is officially released. This editions comprises papers from David Clampitt, Hugo Tremonte de Carvalho, Stephen Paul Guerra, Carlos de Lemos Almada, and Adolfo Maia Jr. and Igor L. Maia. Submissions will be accepted for the first number of fourth volume by May 30, 2020. Since the submission of papers is continuous throughout the year, those sent and approved beyond this date will be considered for subsequent issues.
