Composing music with complex networks

Xiaofan Liu, Chi K. Tse, Michael Small

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper we study the network structure in music and attempt to compose music artificially. Networks are constructed with nodes and edges corresponding to musical notes and their co-occurrences. We analyze sample compositions from Bach, Mozart, Chopin, as well as other types of music including Chinese pop music. We observe remarkably similar properties in all networks constructed from the selected compositions. Power-law exponents of degree distributions, mean degrees, clustering coefficients, mean geodesic distances, etc. are reported. With the network constructed, music can be created by using a biased random walk algorithm, which begins with a randomly chosen note and selects the subsequent notes according to a simple set of rules that compares the weights of the edges, weights of the nodes, and/or the degrees of nodes. The newly created music from complex networks will be played in the presentation. © 2009 ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComplex Sciences
Subtitle of host publicationRevised Papers, Part 2
EditorsJie Zhou
PublisherSpringer Berlin Heidelberg
Pages2196-2205
ISBN (Electronic)9783642024696
ISBN (Print)9783642024689
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes
Event1st International Conference on Complex Sciences: Theory and Applications (Complex 2009) - Shanghai, China
Duration: 23 Feb 200925 Feb 2009

Publication series

NameLecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
VolumeLNICST 5
ISSN (Print)1867-8211
ISSN (Electronic)1867-822X

Conference

Conference1st International Conference on Complex Sciences: Theory and Applications (Complex 2009)
Abbreviated titleComplex 2009
PlaceChina
CityShanghai
Period23/02/0925/02/09

Research Keywords

  • Complex Network
  • Degree Distribution
  • Scale Free Network
  • Node Weight
  • Musical Note

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