A python library for procedural music composition, based on the music21 (https://github.com/cuthbertLab/music21) framework, created and maintained by Dr. Georges Dimitrov, composition professor at Concordia University (https://www.concordia.ca/finearts/music.html).
The library is currently in alpha development state.
This library currently contains the following core modules:
- isorhythm: Functions for generating isorhythmic constructions from pitch and rhythm sequences.
- minimalism: Functions for generating Philip Glass/Steve Reich-inspired additive and substractive processes.
- tintinnabuli: Functions for generating Arvo Pärt-inspired tintinnabuli.
- transformations: Functions for doing scalar transpositions and inversions, retrogrades...
It also contains the following helper modules:
- scales: Extension of music21 scales system with some common/useful scales.
- sequences: Useful integer sequences for music composition, like primes, fibonacci, kolakoski...
- tools: Convenient helper functions for quickly manipulating and combining music21 elements.
The samples directory contains sample pieces created with the music21 and arvo libraries, including recreations of some famous pieces of the repertoire. Each subfolder contains a python file with the code, a music xml output, and a pdf of the piece as rendered in MuseScore.
It currently contains the following samples:
- Olivier Messiaen - Quatuor pour la fin du temps (isorhythm)
- Arvo Pärt - Fratres (minimalism, transformations, tintinnabuli)
- Frederic Rzewski - Coming Together (minimalism, transformations)
Want to see arvo in action? Watch a 20 minutes primer to setting up arvo and using it with MuseScore and Ableton Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxB7r4hnEL8