Since childhood, the composer Peter Michael Hamel has been embedded in a musical environment. Here he describes a new experience leading to some new insight when he was confronted with some results ...in brain science. Although he has always been interested in the scientific basis of sound and music, certain characteristics of temporal information processing in the brain were new to him. In particular, the time window of some 3 s fascinated him. As an immediate reaction, he decided to compose a string quartet, which he called The Time Frame. This time window, which is an anthropological universal, provides an operative basis for effortless communication, empathic relationships to others, and it is the brain's way to integrate continuity and simultaneity of what is experienced in a complementary mode. This time window is also a temporal platform for self‐awareness. This suggests a reflection of the concept of the “self” as it has been conceived since antiquity and in different cultural environments. This reflection has motivated the title of his report, “Through the Self to Music.” This appears to be contradictory to the internationally well‐received title of his book, Through Music to the Self. However, it can be interpreted as complementary. As the composer says: the “self” is a creative starting point for composing and listening “in” time windows.
Throughout the history of music there has often been a conflict between the old and the new. This applies very much to the music of the English composer, Hugh Wood (b.1932). Studying history, and ...later composition with Anthony Milner, Iain Hamilton and Mátyás Seiber, he respectively gained from them beauty of music, especially melody, and a mastery of counterpoint; the technique of twelve-note serialism; and a varied and undogmatic approach to composition. This has been reflected in almost universal praise for his music from the critics. Of his five numbered string quartets, the first, fourth and fifth are cast in separate movements, while the second and third play continuously in a large number of linked sections. Quartets Nos.1, 4 and 5 have short separate movements which ostensibly employ traditional forms, ternary, rondo, sonata, scherzo and trio, but in practice give little indication of this because of the vivid but terse ideas and the subtlety of motivic connections that arise from the use of extensive melodic fragments given at the very beginning of each work. The Quartets Nos. 2 and 3 are superficially different in technique, but here Wood groups his numerous sections (39 for No.2 and 24 for No.3) to suggest traditional forms. Again this is deceptive as there is dramatic argument at a detailed level which disguises any obvious connection with these traditional forms. The overall effect is one of drama, enhanced by a strong feeling for the progress of the music. The composer has retained some vestiges of traditional form and other techniques in his music, but at the same time has at all stages enlivened his thematic material with vividness, imagination and a strong sense of musical drama coupled with a strong motivic network. This is the intellectual magic that marks out these quartets as very special.
This paper aims to generate chords for popular songs automatically based on complex network. Firstly, according to the characteristics of guitar tablature, six chord networks of popular songs by six ...pop singers are constructed and the properties of all networks are concluded. By analyzing the diverse chord networks, the accompaniment regulations and features are shown, with which the chords can be generated automatically. Secondly, in terms of the characteristics of popular songs, a two-tiered network containing a verse network and a chorus network is constructed. With this network, the verse and chorus can be composed respectively with the random walk algorithm. Thirdly, the musical motif is considered for generating chords, with which the bad chord progressions can be revised. This method can make the accompaniments sound more melodious. Finally, a popular song is chosen for generating chords and the new generated accompaniment sounds better than those done by the composers.
•The analysis of the chord progressions encountered in pop music by complex network theory is interesting and useful.•The concept of musical motif is considered for generating chords automatically.•The bad chord progressions can be revised that can make the accompaniments sound more melodious.
This paper suggests new strategies for introducing students to robotics technologies and concepts, and argues for the importance of providing multiple entry points into robotics. In particular, the ...paper describes four strategies that have been successful in engaging a broad range of learners: (1) focusing on themes, not just challenges; (2) combining art and engineering; (3) encouraging storytelling; (4) organizing exhibitions, rather than competitions. The paper describes a new technology, called the PicoCricket, that supports these strategies by enabling young people to design and program artistic creations that integrate light, sound, music, and motion. The paper concludes with an analysis of robotics activities in three educational environments, examining how these new strategies and technologies can engage young people with diverse interests and learning styles.
This study investigated whether short-term protein supplement to the seed-only diet during adulthood would impact the production and song features in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). In ...singly housed adult male zebra finches provided daily with seeds as food without or with 1 g of egg white protein supplement (equivalent to ~0.11 g egg proteins) under 12 h light : 12 h dark condition for 8 weeks, we recorded singing pattern at the beginning and end over 2 days when a female conspecific shared his cage. We found no effect of the egg protein supplement on daily song production, song bout duration and motifs per bout as well as the spectral features of the song, viz. motif duration, amplitude, pitch, goodness, mean frequency, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation or entropy. Perhaps, as sexually selected trait, song quality is not directly related to body metabolism. It is likely that seeds provided met energy requirement for vocalization (song production), and so additional egg white protein supplement did not affect the singing behaviour in adult zebra finches.
Spiritual needs often emerge in the context of receiving health or behavioral health services. Yet, despite the prevalence and salience of spiritual needs in service provision, clients often report ...their spiritual needs are inadequately addressed. In light of research suggesting that most social workers have received minimal training in identifying spiritual needs, this study uses a qualitative meta-synthesis (N = 11 studies) to identify and describe clients' perceptions of their spiritual needs in health care settings. The results revealed six interrelated themes: (1) meaning, purpose, and hope; (2) relationship with God; (3) spiritual practices; (4) religious obligations; (5) interpersonal connection; and (6) professional staff interactions. The implications of the findings are discussed as they intersect social work practice and education.
In the 1980s, Prince was ubiquitous in the US. Not only did he dominate the airwaves, MTV, and movie theaters, he presented an ever-evolving visual and sonic persona. But one theme tied all his work ...together: love. This article traces Prince's depiction and beliefs of love from Purple Rain (1984) to Graffiti Bridge (1990), focusing on key moments in his films, videos, and music. Throughout this period, Prince explored love in many different forms, including the love of self, others, revolution, and God. Through dialogue and lyrics from his films, videos, and music, Prince's many different versions of love are woven together to create a greater narrative that celebrates Prince's grand vision of love for all.
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