Publications
Please do not cite or circulate drafts without permission.
The Generalized Tonnetz
Draft of an article exploring Tonnetz-style note-based graphs.
OUCH theory, or a dialogue in neo-Fuxian style
Draft of a (hopefully) amusing article about how to write four-part counterpoint. Proposes a simple "grammar" of upper-voice configurations in four-voice writing
Local Harmonic Grammar in Western Classical Music
Draft of an article using corpus-based methods to describe the harmonic grammar of Bach and Mozart.
Submajorization and the Geometry of Unordered Collections
With Rachel Hall. Forthcoming in The American Mathematical Monthly.
Mazzola's Model of Fuxian Counterpoint
A critical examination of some of Guerino Mazzola's work,
with some meta-theoretical ruminations.
In Mathematics and Computation in Music, eds. Carlos Agon, Moreno Andreatta, Gérard Assayag, Emmanuel Amiot, Jean Bresson, and John Mandereau: Springer (2011): 297–310.
Dear Stanley
An autobiographical rumination on the philosopher Stanley Cavell's influence.
"Dear Stanley." Journal of Music Theory 54.1 (2010): 5–25.
Generalizing Musical Intervals
A critical exploration of David Lewin's ideas.
“Generalizing Musical Intervals.” Journal of Music Theory 53.2 (2009): 227–254.
Geometrical Methods in Recent Music Theory
Explores some of the philosophical issues underlying recent theoretical activity, prompted by the work of Joti Rockwell.
“Geometrical Methods in Recent Music Theory.” Music Theory Online 16.1 (2010).
Set Class Similarity, Voice Leading, and the Fourier Transform
A pretty technical article relating work by Quinn, Lewin, and myself. Useful if you find yourself writing a dissertation on the subject.
“Set-class Similarity, Voice leading, and the Fourier Transform.” Journal of Music Theory 52.2 (2008): 251–272.
Three Conceptions of Musical Distance
Discusses connections between the Tonnetz, voice-leading spaces, and Fourier magnitudes.
“Three Conceptions of Musical Distance.” In Mathematics and Computation in Music, eds. Elaine Chew, Adrian Childs, and Ching-Hua Chuan, Heidelberg: Springer (2009), 258–273.
Recasting K-nets
Provides a new and more general perspective on a very difficult theoretical topic. Prompted by the work of Michael Buchler.
"Recasting K-nets." Music Theory Online 13.3 (2007).
Lewin, Intervals, and Transformations: A Comment on Hook
My first attempt to probe the methodological foundations of David Lewin's music theory.
"Lewin, Intervals, and Transformations." Music Theory Spectrum 30.1 (2008): 164–168.
Generalized Voice Leading Spaces
This article can be downloaded free from Science if you follow this link.
"Generalized Voice Leading Spaces." (with Callender, Quinn). Science 320 (2008): 346-348.
The Geometry of Musical Chords
This article can be downloaded free from Science if you follow this link.
"The Geometry of Musical Chords." Science 313 (2006): 72-74.
Scale Theory, Serial Theory, and Voice Leading
"Scale Theory, Serial Theory, and Voice Leading." Music Analysis 27.1 (2008): 1-49.
Scale Networks in Debussy
"Scale Networks in Debussy." Journal of Music Theory 48.1 (2004).
Voice Leadings as Generalized Key Signatures
"Voice Leadings as Generalized Key Signatures." Music Theory Online 11.4 (2005).
Function Theories: A Statistical Approach
"Function Theories: A Statistical Approach." Musurgia 10.3-4 (2003): 35-64
Octatonicism Reconsidered Again
"Octatonicism Reconsidered Again." Music Theory Spectrum 25.1 (2003): 185-202.
Stravinsky and the Octatonic: A Reconsideration
"Stravinsky and the Octatonic: A Reconsideration." Music Theory Spectrum 24.1 (2002): 68-102.
The Sound of Philosophy
"The Sound of Philosophy." Boston Review October/November 2000: 42-46.
The Sublime Beethoven
"The Sublime Beethoven." Boston Review December/January 1999-2000: 40-43.
The Consecutive-Semitone Constraint on Scalar Structure: A Link Between Impressionism and Jazz
"The Consecutive-Semitone Constraint on Scalar Structure: A Link Between Impressionism and Jazz." Integral 11 (1997): 135-179.
What Good is Religion?
"What Good is Religion?" Boston Review December/January 1997-1998: 37-41.
The Nitrous Oxide Philosopher
"The Nitrous Oxide Philosopher." The Atlantic Monthly May 1996: 93-101.
