URL:

files/proceedings/2010/39.pdf

Abstract:

Computer language for the description of pattern has been employed for both analysis and composition of music. In this paper we investigate the latter, with particular inter- est in pattern language for use in live coding performance [1]. Towards this end we introduce Tidal, a pattern lan- guage designed for music improvisation, and embedded in the Haskell programming language. Tidal represents polyphonic patterns as a time varying function, providing an extensible range of pattern genera- tors and combinators for composing patterns out of hier- archies of sub-patterns. Open Sound Control (OSC) mes- sages are used to trigger sound events, where each OSC parameter may be expressed as a pattern. Tidal is designed to allow patterns to be created and modified during a live coded performance, aided by terse, expressive syntax and integration with an emerging time synchronisation stan- dard.