Monthly Archives: January 2008

lectureNotes_musth4 musicTheory4

(musTh212) Bring your anthology to class!

Bring your Burkhart anthology to class on Friday (2/1), along with the Kostka.

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(maxmsp) Assignment 3: Sound File Playback (modified)

Due Monday, 2/4:

Due Wednesday, 2/6 (see announcement)

Create three patchers that play and record sound files according the following instructions. The patchers can be in one window, as subpatchers in one window, or in separate files.

  1. Patcher1: A patcher that will play three separate sound files, with the playback of each sound file mapped to a specific MIDI note. Pressing the associated MIDI note will start playback of a sound file; releasing the MIDI note will stop playback of a sound file. The playback speed of each sound file should be controlled by a MIDI continuous controller (CC). All three sound files should be able to play at the same time. Include all three sound files with the folder that you turn in, and program the patcher to automatically load them when the patcher is opened.
  2. Patcher 2: Using one sound file, define at least 5 cues that will play back in random order for as long as any MIDI key is held down. (You can assume that only one key will be pressed at a time.) MIDI key velocity should determine the overall amplitude for sound file playback, and the attack and release should have at least some type of amplitude envelope ramp to avoid start and end clicks. Include the sound file with the folder that you turn in, and program the patcher to automatically load it when the patcher is opened.
  3. Patcher 3: A patcher that will record audio input from the mixer and Soundflower (interapplication audio). Use the computer keyboard to start and stop recording for each input individually. You don’t have to turn in saved audio files from your recording, but the ability to do so should be part of the patcher.
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(maxmsp) Lecture Notes: Quiz 1 Review

Quiz Wednesday (1/30)

The quiz will primarily focus on how Max sends and executes messages. Things to study:

  • right-to-left order of operation. Understand that this applies to order of outlets, and to ordering of patch cords that branch from one outlet. Also with right-to-left order, a whole path/branch must finish executing messages and operations before the next branch to the left will initiate its actions.
  • The difference between floating point numbers and integer numbers, and how to work with both.
  • How the random, metro, bang, trigger, counter and pack objects work. Also notein, noteout, and stripnote.
  • How to store and recall values in a table object.

I will have some example patchers with number values; you’ll have to compute the results. Order of operation and int/float issues will be in play.

I’ll have some questions that will require you to know what type of messages could result from certain combinations of objects (listed above) and data.

I might ask you to sketch a patcher that performs a certain task using the objects listed above.

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(musTh212) Lecture Notes: Test 1 Review ERROR

There’s an error in the first sample problem of the review sheet. To divide the octave equally with M2/d3 intervals, you need an extra measure. I’ve fixed it on the pdf.

Test1Review.pdf (in iLocker)

To check your answers,

Test1ReviewSolved.pdf (in iLocker)

Be sure to go over the review sheet, past homeworks, and lecture notes regarding important analysis topics covered in class and the book.

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(musTh212) Assignment: Omnibus Sequence

Due Monday (1/28):

Complete the handout from class, or in iLocker here.

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(musTh212) Lecture Notes: Omnibus Sequence

subtitled, What I forgot to teach you about symmetrical divisions of the octave…

The omnibus sequence is a special type of harmonic sequence. When the sequential unit moves by minor third a chromatic scale will occur in one voice, usually the bass. The omnibus sequence is different than a regular harmonic sequence, in that the individual voices do not all move in parallel (strict or diatonic) motion between units.

The features of the omnibus sequence are:

  • The sequential unit is a three-chord pattern.
  • The unit pattern pivots around a 64 triad (a second inversion triad will always be the second chord of the unit pattern).
  • Two voices will move in contrary chromatic motion (the bass and one upper voice).
  • Two voices will not move within the unit pattern.
  • The upper voice chromatic motion will always switch between voices from unit to unit. (It will cycle through the upper voices.)
  • There are two types of omnibus sequences. One starts with a °7 chord, with the chromatic scale ascending. The other starts with a Ger+65 chord, with the chromatic scale descending.
  • Enharmonic spellings are frequently used.

The °7 omnibus

  • The sequential unit is °7 – 64 – Ger+65 (or °3).
  • The contrary motion is not a perfect mirror. The bass moves by half step throughout, but the upper voice will first descend a M2 (or °3), then a m2. Look for the upper voice that can descend that distance to double the bass of the second chord.
  • With root movement of a minor third (between units), the beginning °7 chord of each unit will be made up of the same pitches (probably respelled enharmonically).
  • All the upper voices will remain common from the third chord of one sequential unit to the first chord of the next sequential unit. The bass will continue its chromatic ascent.

The Ger+6 omnibus

  • The harmonic pattern of the unit is Ger65 – 64 – Ger°3.
  • The contrary chromatic motion is strictly symmetrical. Both voices move m2 – m2.
  • Two voices still remain as common tones throughout the unit pattern.
  • Each unit contains a voice exchange between the two voices that start with the +6, ending with a °3. For example, if the +6 is Ab to F#, the Ab will descend to G then F# (the starting point of the other voice), while the F# will ascend to G then Ab (the starting point of the other voice).
  • The contrary chromatic voices will continue their outward m2 progression from the third chord of one unit to the first chord of the next unit.
  • The stationary voices in one unit will remain common from chord three of one unit to chord one of the next. (After this, one of the two common tone voices will form an +6 with the bass and will become the contrary motion voice.)

Enharmonic Spelling Choices

My in-class examples tried to maintain the +6 intervals wherever possible for maximum clarity of explanation. You do not need to be so slavish to proper interval spelling. My only guideline is that octaves should be spelled as such (C – C), not as augmented sevenths (C – B#) or diminished ninths (C – Dbb).

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(musTh212) Class prep update

I didn’t get the copies of the Berg songs until late this afternoon, so distributing ahead of time is out. We’ll go over some of the songs in class tomorrow and Monday.

We will spend some time tomorrow talking about the omnibus sequence, described in Ch. 41 of the Gauldin. You can read about it ahead of time, or just wait to be amazed by it in class tomorrow. Either way, it will be on the test next week.

assignments_musth4 musicTheory4

(musTh212) Integer Notation Assignment Graded

The Integer Notation assignments have been graded. I’ve put up a “MusTh 212 Graded Assignment” envelope on my door (MU 109B) with the graded assignments. AM students are in the front; PM in the back. Two people didn’t put their name on their papers. Please see me to claim your grade.

There were a few careless math errors (0 + 8 = 9 !!!), along with a few more careless clef errors. The second line was in bass clef. Some of you would temporarily venture into treble and then back to bass.

The biggest error was with part II, with several people not answering with Pitch Class names (Bb, C, A, etc.). I counted half off for that. It was covered in class both on the day I handed the assignment out, and on question day.

Remember, short quiz over this on Friday.

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(maxmsp) Lecture Notes: coll, iter, key, timer

Uncommented patches are in iLocker. Look for day7x-scratch.txt files. (3 files) Commented versions will follow.

New objects:

  • coll: stores lists of data with arbitrarily assignable index symbols. Lists don’t have to be same length, and through the intelligent use of symbols you can recall data with musically meaningful names.
  • iter: like unpack, it breaks a list into individual messages. Unlike unpack, the list can be of arbitrary length (not previously specified). The individual messages in the list are sent out one after another immediately out the one outlet.
  • key: allows for keyboard input from computer keyboard. Use the ASCII codes for cross-platform compatibility. You can use select to look for a particular key.
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(maxmsp) Assignment: MIDI performance patch

Due 1/25, for in-class performance.

Create a MaxMSP Patcher that you can perform/improvise with. You should expect to perform your patcher for about a minute. Your patcher should combine automated generation of MIDI data along with some element of live performance. For sound production you can use any MIDI software or device you are familiar with (Reason, Tassman, Kontakt, etc.). There are no other restrictions.

On Friday we will perform the patchers during class time. Come prepared. You’ll load your patcher onto the iMac with the projector so that everyone can view your patch while performing.