Kinetic musimple — a computerized mathematically oriented music notation system

Abstract

MUSIMPLE is a system of musical notation first introduced by the author in 1973 with the main objective of making available a notation easy to write by hand or on a conventional typewriter and readily programmed for a computer. The MUSIMPLE computer program offers a kinetic visual representation simultaneously with the music played on a keyboard marked with the relevant MUSIMPLE notation. It uses only the digits 1 and 0 to indicate pitch and the mnemotechnical characters . − = + to indicate rhythm; ∗ signifies a rest. The kinetic display demostrates the MUSIMPLE notation on a moving diagram scrolled on the computer screen simultaneously with the musical performance. The perception of the simple VISUAL images with simultaneous performance of music, determines and controls the flow of sensory information and provides the feedback and interactions which are essential to development of skilful performance. It provides a learning activity package with rational performance objectives, study guide and self test. It requires no previous musical know-how and is readily understood and comprehended after a very brief learning period. It is ideal for acquiring musical literacy. The kinetic MUSIMPLE model aids the explanation of the analogy of musical laws in relation to other systems of knowledge and provides a break-through in understanding the rationale of musical phenomena by constructing a mathematical model of music in a practical simple notation readily adaptable to computers. Human intelligence aims at the mutual enrichment of the Arts and Sciences. It is hoped that the introduction of the MUSIMPLE program based on a mathematically oriented model will illustrate a way in which art and computing technology are capable of combining to create a new concept of musical thought, artistic expression and better understanding of the wide external scope of musical phenomena. We look forward in the future to a compiler for converting conventional notation into the modern mathematically oriented MUSIMPLE kinetic music notation and vice-versa.