ModusXXI: An Atonal Melody Generator for Ear Training, Based on Lars Edlund´S Modus Novus Methodology

Abstract

This paper describes the development, evaluation and use of the computer program ModusXXI, a music generatorthat can create a practically unlimited number of atonal melodic dictations, or melodic material for sight-reading, basedon the Modus Novus methodology [Edlund, 1963]. Lars Edlund’s Modus Novus organizes the aural study of atonalmelody structure on the combinations of intervals that will break the bonds with any tonal context; a characteristic ofsome music composed since the first half of the 20th century. Each chapter has certain melodic material that hasbeen grouped together, according to the musical intervals that they contain, in groups of increasing degree ofdifficulty. Although there are other atonal ear-training methods [Friedmann, 1990], Modus Novus is the only oneknown to us that concentrates specifically on the study of the melodic interval structure of atonal music.