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Music and Information

The application of information theory to music may provide both a means for measuring the information content of the messages .of the system and for studying the effects of such messages in the field of psychology of music (e.g., the group at Iowa University which is carrying on work commenced by Carl Seashore 3 ). Before the techniques of information theory may be applied to a study of music much statistical data about the music system must be compiled. Masking data must be compiled dealing with many simultaneous tones as are encountered in music; the effects of timbre in overcoming or adding to masking effects must be investigated; the effects of masking on and by the singing voice must be tabulated; and similar data must be compiled dealing with the effects of other types of tonal interactions. This data of the effects of tonal interactions may be used both to reduce the effects of such auditory phenomena and to determine which components of a message pass through the communication channel (i.e., the ear). The masking problem, as illustrated in Figures 19 and 20, may be so acute in some compositions that the part of the signal carrying the information content may be obliterated. These illustrations indicate, however, that effects of masking and other forms of tonal interactions may be reduced This study has indicated, further, that elimination of the effects of tonal interactions is impossible if a wide range of dynamic intensities is used, but that these effects are limitations of the transmission channel and thus restrict the choice of tones of the musical system which may be used at one time.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc699700
Date08 1900
CreatorsLawes, Robert Clement
ContributorsDorn, Gerhardt George, 1911-, Ottman, Robert W.
PublisherNorth Texas State College
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatvi, 87 leaves: ill., music, Text
RightsPublic, Lawes, Robert Clement, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights

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