~ transmusic ~

...is what I call music produced from a stream of numerical information. The term is, as far as I know, new, but the practice certainly is not. Indeed, the transmusical endeavor has been going on for some time, although, judging from what I've seen, in highly piecemeal fashion. Moreover, the interest has tended to revolve around a few specific input sources of almost cult-like following, such as fractals or DNA. At Isle Ex, in contrast, the hope has been, in using the term 'transmusic' and describing a simple generic methodology, to encourage a wider and more systematic inquiry. In my view this is an area ripe for theoretical investigation, while at the same time the would-be transmusician is greeted with a limitless diversity of potential input sources.

Transmusical examples produced from novel inputs are presented below. Since source systems may be broadly characterized as either "mathematical" or "physical", a case study from each realm is provided. As time permits, studies of other sources may be added.

Cellular automaton music
Simple proof-of-concept examples of musified CA demographics.

Too Hot to Handel
Musification of interval sequences measured on several of Yellowstone's geysers.

Background Information
Global notes pertaining to the Isle Ex transmusic exhibit. The questions 'how' and 'why' get some air time.

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 Page created 4-Feb-1998.  See map for file modification date.