Quantification of Determinism in Music Using Iterated Function Systems

This paper proposes a novel technique for exhibiting and quantifying the determinism in music. A written score of music is modeled as a dynamical system employing an iterated function system to generate a picture from the music. This picture is then analyzed using methods of chaos theory and time-series analysis to quantify the determinism. Comparisons with random and chaotic control data and with some algorithmic compositions are made. The method might be useful for cataloging different musical styles or perhaps even testing authenticity of musical compositions.