Computer aided analysis of Xenakis-Keren

Abstract

The similarity neighbourhood model is a computer aided mathematical approach to the paradigmatic analysis of the melodic content of a piece of music. It makes use of statistical, semiotical and computational approaches to perform an exhaustive search on melodies in given music pieces. It has been designed to help music theoreticians to perform melodic analysis of given music pieces. This paper, presents the analysis of Keren, which is a solo trombone piece of Xenakis, based on the results obtained from the similarity neighbourhood model. The similarity neighbourhood model identifies melodic similarities depending on the contour similarities of melodic segments. Keren does not contain similar melodic segments in the sense of the Baroque or classical period of western music. However this paper shows that the results of the similarity neighbourhood model are interpreted in a way considering where similarities exist, so that they contribute to a music-theoretical analysis of the concerned piece. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.