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The Geometry of Music

Posted by kdawson on from the fantasia-with-strings dept.

An anonymous reader notes a Time.com profile of Princeton University music theorist Dmitri Tymoczko, who has applied some string-theory math to the study of music and found that all possible chordal music can be represented in a higher-dimensional space. His research was published last year in Science — it was the first paper on music theory they ever ran. The paper and background material, including movies, can be viewed at Tymoczko's site.

15 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Dirk Gently by freaknl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Am I the only one who immediately thought of the computer scientist in Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency?

    1. Re:Dirk Gently by Decameron81 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Am I the only one who immediately thought of the computer scientist in Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency?


      Yes.
      --
      diegoT
    2. Re:Dirk Gently by Smordnys+s'regrepsA · · Score: 2, Funny

      Am I the only one who immediately thought of the computer scientist in Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency?


      Yes.

      No.
      --
      Just -1, Troll talking to another.
    3. Re:Dirk Gently by SimonGhent · · Score: 2, Funny

      Am I the only one who immediately thought of the computer scientist in Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency?


      Yes.


      No.


      Yes and No.
      --
      simon
    4. Re:Dirk Gently by Thanshin · · Score: 2, Funny

      Am I the only one who immediately thought of the computer scientist in Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency? Yes. No. Yes and No. 42.

        All the responses are wrong, including this one and excluding the next.
    5. Re:Dirk Gently by F34nor · · Score: 2, Funny

      Clean pressed Irish linen sheets every day.

    6. Re:Dirk Gently by Hillgiant · · Score: 2, Funny

      >>>> Am I the only one who immediately thought of the computer scientist in Douglas Adams'
      >>>> Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency?

      >>> Yes.

      >> No.

      > Yes and No.

      Yes OR no.
      Possibly Maybe.
      Probably No.
      --
      -
  2. Seems to me by Smordnys+s'regrepsA · · Score: 3, Funny

    Lots of people found out exactly this in the sixties.

    ...or, maybe it wasn't the music, but the copious amount of hallucinogens that were taking them to higher dimensions.

    --
    Just -1, Troll talking to another.
  3. Re:Actually by El+Yanqui · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dice, shmice. More cowbell is all that's needed to solve the equation.

    --
    Well, thanks to the Internet, I'm now bored with sex.
  4. Applied theory by Blighten · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally there's a hard piece of work that demostrates the usefulness of String Theory.... oh wait.... it doesn't.

    1. Re:Applied theory by LeadSongDog · · Score: 2, Funny

      Finally there's a hard piece of work that demostrates the usefulness of String Theory.... oh wait.... it doesn't. I'm pretty sure that string theory has managed to feed a number of math-geek's babies. You tell me if that's useful.
      --
      Oh, I'm sorry sir, I thought you were referring to me, Mr. Wensleydale.
  5. Re:Well... by Yoozer · · Score: 4, Funny

    Quit channeling Stockhausen ;).

  6. ObligatoryJack Black quotation by Potor · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't need no instructions to know how to ROCK!

  7. Re:Hmmmm. by TapeCutter · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I'd want solid evidence"

    Yeah, Science will print any crackpot theory...oh wait...dammit...I've conflated Slashdot and Science, again! Second time this week...

    --
    And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
  8. Re:Watched the .movs by carpe.cervisiam · · Score: 2, Funny

    Only if the camera was pointed at Simon for the whole episode.

    --
    It's not paranoia when they really are out to get you.