HIERARCHICAL MUSIC REPRESENTATION FOR COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

In this paper, we present intermediate results of continuing research into the utility of generalised hierarchical structures for the repres entation of musical information. We build on an abstract data type pre sented in Wiggins et al. (1989), using constituents, which are structu rally significant groupings of musical events. We suggest that a divis ion into such groupings can be musically meaningful, and that it can b e more flexible than similar approaches. We demonstrate our representa tion system at work in both analysis and composition, with output from computer programs. We conclude that it is possible and useful to repr esent music in a way independent of the particular style, tonal system , etc., of the music itself.