Composing Code: A Self-portrait With Messiaen, Python, and Lilypond

An Algorithmic Model of Olivier Messiaen’s "Mode de valeurs et d'intensités"

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This is a talk I gave on the algorithmic simulation of Olivier Messiaen's "Mode de valeurs et d'intensités" at the 6th Tehran International Electronic Music Festival on September 11, 2024.

Summary

In my talk, I will provide an overview of two invaluable tools for the algorithmic music composer: LilyPond and MIDI. LilyPond is a high-quality sheet music compiler using a text-file format, allowing significant flexibility in music notation. I will also introduce two Python packages, authored by me, which simplify many tasks when working with LilyPond and MIDI. I have been using these packages for my compositional work since 2018. I will conclude by showcasing these packages in action, programmatically reproducing a piece by Olivier Messiaen.

The full code for the simulation can be accessed via the following link:
https://codeberg.org/Dolce/dolce/src/branch/main/examples/messiaen.py