Version 1
: Received: 29 June 2020 / Approved: 30 June 2020 / Online: 30 June 2020 (08:17:20 CEST)
How to cite:
Cochrane, L.J.; Gatherer, D. Dynamic Programming Algorithms Applied to Musical Counterpoint in Process Composition: An Example Using Henri Pousseur’s Scambi. Preprints2020, 2020060359. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0359.v1
Cochrane, L.J.; Gatherer, D. Dynamic Programming Algorithms Applied to Musical Counterpoint in Process Composition: An Example Using Henri Pousseur’s Scambi. Preprints 2020, 2020060359. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0359.v1
Cochrane, L.J.; Gatherer, D. Dynamic Programming Algorithms Applied to Musical Counterpoint in Process Composition: An Example Using Henri Pousseur’s Scambi. Preprints2020, 2020060359. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0359.v1
APA Style
Cochrane, L.J., & Gatherer, D. (2020). Dynamic Programming Algorithms Applied to Musical Counterpoint in Process Composition: An Example Using Henri Pousseur’s <i>Scambi</i>. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0359.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Cochrane, L.J. and Derek Gatherer. 2020 "Dynamic Programming Algorithms Applied to Musical Counterpoint in Process Composition: An Example Using Henri Pousseur’s <i>Scambi</i>" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0359.v1
Abstract
The Needleman-Wunsch process is a classic tool in bioinformatics, being a dynamic programming algorithm that performs a pairwise alignment of two input biological sequences, either protein or nucleic acid. A distance matrix between the tokens used in the sequences is also required as input. The distance matrix is used to generate a positional pairwise similarity matrix between the input sequences, which is in turn used to generate a dynamic programming matrix. The best path through the dynamic programming matrix is navigated using a traceback procedure that maximises similarity, inserting gaps as necessary. Needleman-Wunsch can align both nucleic acids or proteins, which use alphabets of size 4 and 20 tokens respectively. It can also be applied to any other kind of sequence where distance matrices can be specified. Here, we apply it to chains of Pousseur’s Scambi electronic music fragments, of which there are 32, and which Pousseur categorised by their sonic properties, thus permitting the consecutive construction of distance, similarity and dynamic programming matrices. Traceback through the dynamic programming matrix thus produces contrapuntal duet compositions in which two Scambi chains are played in the maximally euphonious manner, providing also an illustration of the principles of biological sequence alignment in sound.
Scambi; Bio-Art; Bio-Music; music; counterpoint; process composition; dynamic programming; Needleman-Wunsch algorithm; global alignment
Subject
Arts and Humanities, Music
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
