Notes and note pairs in Nørgård's infinity series

DOI10.1080/17459737.2017.1299807zbMATH Open1390.00053arXiv1402.3091OpenAlexW2962721384WikidataQ60692387 ScholiaQ60692387MaRDI QIDQ4608191FDOQ4608191

Authors: Christopher Drexler-Lemire, Yu Hin Au, Jeffrey Shallit 

Publication date: 16 March 2018

Published in: Journal of Mathematics and Music (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The Danish composer Per Noergaard defined the "infinity series" s = (s(n))_n>=0 by the rules s(0) = 0, s(2n) = -s(n) for n >= 1, and s(2n + 1) = s(n) + 1 for n >= 0; it figures prominently in many of his compositions. Here we give several new results about this sequence: first, the set of binary representations of the positions of each note forms a context-free language that is not regular; second, a complete characterization of exactly which note-pairs appear; third, that consecutive occurrences of identical phrases are widely separated. We also consider to what extent the infinity series is unique.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1402.3091

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zbMATH Keywords

intervalbinomial coefficientself-similaritycontext-free languagePascal's trianglerepetitionhierarchical musicNørgård's infinity seriesnote pairrunning sum

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Exact enumeration problems, generating functions (05A15) Factorials, binomial coefficients, combinatorial functions (05A10) Recurrences (11B37) Binomial coefficients; factorials; (q)-identities (11B65) Automata sequences (11B85) Mathematics and music (00A65)

Cites Work

• Title not available (Why is that?)
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• Three models for the description of language

Cited In (2)

• The infinite sequence of the composer Per Nørgård
• Symbolic structures in music theory and composition, binary keyboards, and the Thue-Morse shift

Uses Software

• OEIS

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