Musical Synthesis by Means of Cellular Automata and Gestalt Patterns
Luca Danieli
In order to emulate a composer-based approach to musical writing, the paper aims to to create of a new musical synthesis model based on gestalt matrices.
The approach is described in three different levels:
- a sound model: all instruments have their own interface and have specific roles within a musical composition. Every instrument typology is unique, and composers write for specific instrumental characteristics;
- an action model: every performer has different ways to interact with the instrument itself. Each instrument is a powerful sound provider. The action performed on the instrument has the function of “choosing” which particular sound model to play;
- a score model: every musical staff has specific functions in the score and represents a certain contribution to the outcome which is related to macro-structure analysis.
A self-generating matrix, described by use of patterns, is applied to these basic concepts, thus giving them personal stochastic behaviors and creating a comparison system to reduce data processing.
Keywords: Perception, cognition, cellular automata, musical writing, gestalt patterns, emotional model