The Music in the Data: Corpus Analysis, Music Analysis, and Tonal Traditions

The Music in the Data argues that large datasets of music can be integrated with qualitative questions in music research, providing new levels of understanding and insight into music traditions. It introduces basic techniques of data analysis and connects empirical information with theories of musical and textual meaning, enriching the other.

Format: Hardback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 28 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Music in the Data presents a compelling new argument for a humanities-based approach to big-data analysis, demonstrating how large datasets of music, often referred to as music corpora, can be effectively integrated with the qualitative questions central to music research. The author contends that in addition to offering objective evidence, music corpora can be treated as texts that can be subjectively read and creatively interpreted, thereby unlocking new levels of understanding and insight into music traditions.

In each chapter of this book, the author explores how we define core music-theory topics such as style, harmony, meter, function, and musical key, and then approaches these topics by examining trends within large musical datasets. A combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation is employed to address these topics. Throughout the book, fundamental techniques of data analysis are introduced and explained, with supporting materials available online. By connecting the empirical information derived from corpus analysis with theories of musical and textual meaning, and illustrating how each approach can enhance the other, this book offers a vital perspective for scholars and students in music theory, musicology, and all areas of music research.

The Music in the Data is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the potential of big data to transform our understanding of music and its cultural significance. By leveraging the power of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation, this book provides a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike, as it opens up new avenues for exploring the rich tapestry of musical traditions and their evolution over time.

Weight: 760g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032259239