Visualizing music similarity: clustering and mapping 500 classical music composers

Abstract

This paper applies clustering techniques and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis to a 500 × 500 composers’ similarity/distance matrix. The objective is to visualize or translate the similarity matrix into dendrograms and maps of classical (European art) music composers. We construct dendrograms and maps for the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, and a map that represents seven centuries of European art music in one single graph. Finally, we also use linear and non-linear canonical correlation analyses to identify variables underlying the dimensions generated by the MDS methodology.