—Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis Labels
Traditional harmonic analysis annotations can be represented in a computer model of a piece of music by plain text strings. But whenever automated processing like analysis, comparison or retrieval is intended, a formal definition is helpful. This should cover not only the syntactic structure, but al...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2022-05-01
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Series: | Music & Science |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043221085659 |
_version_ | 1818205721033965568 |
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author | Markus Lepper Baltasar Trancòn y Widemann Michael Oehler |
author_facet | Markus Lepper Baltasar Trancòn y Widemann Michael Oehler |
author_sort | Markus Lepper |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Traditional harmonic analysis annotations can be represented in a computer model of a piece of music by plain text strings. But whenever automated processing like analysis, comparison or retrieval is intended, a formal definition is helpful. This should cover not only the syntactic structure, but also the semantics, i.e. the intended meaning, and thus adheres to the technique of mathematical remodelling of existing cultural phenomena. The resulting models can serve as a basis for automated processing, but also help to clarify the communication and discussion among humans substantially. This article proposes such a definition in four layers, which address different problems of encoding and communication: (a) relation of symbol sequences to staff positions, (b) combining functions, (c) chord roots, and (d) interval structure and voice leading. Only one of them is specific to functional (Riemannian) theory and can possibly be replaced to represent scale degree theory. The proposal is configurable to different interval specification methods and open to localisation. Syntax and semantics are defined by precise mathematical means, borrowed from computer science, and thus are unambiguously documented. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:01:38Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-dcd4e8265d16439982f5a9be904d3957 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2059-2043 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:01:38Z |
publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
publisher | SAGE Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | Music & Science |
spelling | doaj.art-dcd4e8265d16439982f5a9be904d39572022-12-22T00:39:02ZengSAGE PublishingMusic & Science2059-20432022-05-01510.1177/20592043221085659—Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis LabelsMarkus Lepper0Baltasar Trancòn y Widemann1Michael Oehler2 semantics GmbH, Berlin, Germany Traditional harmonic analysis annotations can be represented in a computer model of a piece of music by plain text strings. But whenever automated processing like analysis, comparison or retrieval is intended, a formal definition is helpful. This should cover not only the syntactic structure, but also the semantics, i.e. the intended meaning, and thus adheres to the technique of mathematical remodelling of existing cultural phenomena. The resulting models can serve as a basis for automated processing, but also help to clarify the communication and discussion among humans substantially. This article proposes such a definition in four layers, which address different problems of encoding and communication: (a) relation of symbol sequences to staff positions, (b) combining functions, (c) chord roots, and (d) interval structure and voice leading. Only one of them is specific to functional (Riemannian) theory and can possibly be replaced to represent scale degree theory. The proposal is configurable to different interval specification methods and open to localisation. Syntax and semantics are defined by precise mathematical means, borrowed from computer science, and thus are unambiguously documented.https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043221085659 |
spellingShingle | Markus Lepper Baltasar Trancòn y Widemann Michael Oehler —Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis Labels Music & Science |
title | —Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis Labels |
title_full | —Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis Labels |
title_fullStr | —Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis Labels |
title_full_unstemmed | —Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis Labels |
title_short | —Versatile Syntax and Semantics for Functional Harmonic Analysis Labels |
title_sort | versatile syntax and semantics for functional harmonic analysis labels |
url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043221085659 |
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