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Download fileA Brief Survey of Music Representation Issues, Techniques, and Systems
journal contribution
posted on 01.03.2000, 00:00 authored by Roger B DannenbergMusic offers a challenging array of representation problems. As an art form, music is
distinguished by the presence of many relationships that can be treated mathematically, including
rhythm and harmony. There are also many non-mathematical elements such as tension,
expectancy, and emotion. Music can contain symbolic or structural relationships existing within
and between the dimensions of pitch, time, timbre, harmony, tempo, rhythm, phrasing, and
articulation. A further source of complexity is that ‘‘music’’ can mean printed notation,
performance (instrument control) information, or resulting sounds. Finally, music evolves with
every new composition. There can be no ‘‘true’’ representation just as there can be no closed
definition of music. These elements combine to make music representation a rich field of study.