Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

Skip to main content
Log in

A microworld approach to the formalization of musical knowledge

  • Published:
Computers and the Humanities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper is about the importance of applying computational modeling and artificial intelligence techniques to music cognition and computer music research. The construction of microworlds as a methodology plays a key role in the different stages of this research. Several uses of microworlds are described. Microworlds have been criticized in the domains of artificial intelligence and the cognitive sciences, but this critique has to be seen in its proper context (i.e. in modeling of human intelligence, not as a methodology). It is shown that the microworld approach is still an important methodology in music cognition and computer music research, and a promising strategy in the design of a general representation formalism of musical knowledge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abelson, H. and A. diSessa.Turtle Geometry: Computation as Medium for Exploring Mathematics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, E.F. “Levels of Structure in the Organisation of Musical Time”. In “Music and Psychology: A Mutual Regard”. Ed. S. McAdams.Contemporary Music Review, 2, 1 (1987).

  • Desain, P. and H. Honing. “LOCO: A Composition Microworld in Logo.Computer Music Journal, 12, 3 (1988), 30–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desain, P. and H. Honing.Music, Mind and Machine: Studies in Computer Music, Music Cognition and Artificial Intelligence. Amsterdam: Thesis Publishers, 1992a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desain, P. and H. Honing. “Towards a Calculus for Expressive Timing in Music”.Computers in Music Research. Vol. 3. 1992b. Also in Desain and Honing, 1992a.

  • Desain, P. and H. Honing. “Tempo Curves Considered Harmful”. In “Music and Time”. Ed. J. Kramer.Contemporary Music Review (forthcoming). Also in Desain and Honing, 1992a.

  • Dreyfus, H. “From Micro-Worlds to Knowledge Representation: AI at an Impasse”. InMind Design. Ed. J. Haugeland. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1981, pp. 161–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fodor, J.The Modularity of the Mind: An Essay on Faculty Psychology. Cambridge, MA: Bradford Books, MIT Press, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friberg, A. L., Frydén, L. Bodin and J. Sundberg. “Performance Rules for Computer-Controlled Contemporary Keyboard Music”.Computer Music Journal, 15, 2 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • Honing, H. “Expresso, a Strong and Small Editor for Expression”. InProceedings of the 1992 International Computer Music Conference. San Francisco: ICMA, 1992, pp. 215–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Honing, H. “Issues in the Representation of Time and Structure in Music”. InMusic and the Cognitive Sciences. Ed. I. Cross and I. Deliège.Contemporary Music Review. London: Harwood Press (1993). Also in Desain and Honing, 1992a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenat, D. B. and E. A. Feigenbaum. “On the Thresholds of Knowledge”.Artificial Intelligence, 47 (1991), 185–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Longuet-Higgins, H.C. “Comments of the Lighthill Report”.Artificial Intelligence — A Paper Symposium. London: Science Research Council, 1973. Reprinted in Longuet-Higgins (1987).

  • Longuet-Higgins, H.C.Mental Processes. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J. M. and P. J. Hayes. “Some Philosophical Problems from the Standpoint of Artificial Intelligence”. InReadings in Artificial Intelligence. Palo Alto: Tioga Publishing, 1981, pp. 431–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J. “We Need Better Standards for AI Research”. InThe Foundations of Artificial Intelligence. A Source Book. Ed. D. Partridge and Y. Wilks. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990, pp. 282–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minsky, M., “Form and Content in Computer Science.” InACM Turing Award Lectures. Ed. R. L. Ashenhurst and S. Graham. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, C. “Mapping Musical Thought to Musical Performance”.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 15 (1989), 331–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papert, S.Mindstorms. New York: Basic Books, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Repp, B. H., “Diversity and Commonality in Music Performance: An Analysis of Timing Microstructure in Schumann's “Traumerei”.Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 92, 5 (1992), 2546–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richie, G. D. and F. K. Hanna. “AM: A Case Study in AI Methodology”. InThe Foundations of Artificial Intelligence. A Source Book. Ed. D. Partridge and Y. Wilks. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990, pp. 247–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B. C. “The Owl and the Electric Encyclopedia”.Artificial Intelligence, 47 (1991), 251–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winograd, T. and F. Flores.Understanding Computers and Cognition. A New Foundation for Design. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winograd, T.Understanding Natural Language. New York: Academic Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winograd, T. “Thinking Machines: Can there Be? Are We?” InThe Foundations of Artificial Intelligence. A Source Book. Ed. D. Partridge and Y. Wilks. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990, pp. 167–89.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Henkjan Honing is research fellow at the University of Amsterdam, where he is doing research on the formalization of musical knowledge concentrating on time and temporal structure. With Peter Desain he wrote the bookMusic, Mind and Machine: Studies in Computer Music, Music Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Honing, H. A microworld approach to the formalization of musical knowledge. Comput Hum 27, 41–47 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01830716

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01830716

Key Words

Navigation