[PD] Creating music notation with GEM

[patrice colet]

David Powers a écrit :
> This sounds interesting, I will take a look at it when I get out of work...
>
> As far as what improvisors need, I'm working in the more
> 'experimental' improv scene right now, which means:
>
> 1. They won't be playing 'Cmajor7' but rather collections of pitch
> cells such as (0 3 5 1 2 4) in some specific key
> 2. There will be additional types of symbols and data, or poetic instructions
> 3. There will be instructions for some improvisors to lead and others
> to follow the leader at various points
> 4. The ultimate idea for a current project is that there will be a
> conductor coordinating improvisors, able to send commands across a
> network to multiple improvisors on the fly. Of course, this opens the
> way for a computer to take the role of conductor also. But in either
> case, there is not a score but rather the structure if the work itself
> is also improvised anew at every performance, out of a collection of
> potential cells and potential instructions that define the space of
> possibilities that any given work inhabits.
>
> In other words, don't think that 'improvisors' means that this is in
> any way going to be 'jazz'. Think more along the lines of the music of
> Webern + Morton Feldman + Cecil Taylor + John Cage...
>
> ~David
>
>
>   
>
I was more thinking about K. Stockhausen, but anyway if this sounds out 
of tune, or smells funny,
 there always will be people that say 'it's jazz'.

1. (0 3 5 1 2 4) might make sense for an engineer because zero for him 
would be the first note,
but a musician uses to start with one, not zero. If this notation is for 
expressing some voicings,
 that is a lot easier and free to read under jazz notation for a human, 
unless the numbers represents guitar tablatures.

It almost sounds like the machine will help classical musicians or 
mathemusicians to do like if they were improvising, interesting...

2.3. I've played a piece long time ago (so long I don't remember the 
title), with other improvisators, where notes on the musical score
were replaced by different symbols  that give instructions differents 
than time and pitch, but also the tone, or pick a note,
 or replay the other voice's pitch or rythm, or tone, or play same fast, 
go slow...
That was funny, and sure it would be more funny if it's a computer that 
conducts everyone!

4. I imagine that puredata will have to transpose for each instrument, 
but if only the key (or key modulation) is given it would be easy to do.
----
 A dictionnary of symbols is so easier to read than numbers for 
expressing musical events, that's why I've asked if you used font files,
 but maybe using gem geos or texture files would make it more elegant or 
versatile?

yes I