Components
Chord Progression Component
The Chord Progression component is used to specify a sequence of Chord Events during the algorithmic composition process.
ArtSong™ chord progressions are unique in that each chord in the progression may optionally have an associated scale. This means each Chord Event can specifies a custom chord for ‘block’ harmony parts while melodies may be drawn from a broader – yet still chord related- scale.
Chord progressions can be saved and reused from a Component Pane popup menu or each chord entered manually as component events.
Loading and Saving Chord Progressions
The ArtSong™ database contains many progression presets. Select the “Load Progression…” menu item from the component-pane pop-up menu to open the Progression Presets Dialog:
Select a progression and click on ‘Ok’ to load the progression. The chords in the progression will appear in an editor’s Data Pane and can be edited there.
Click and hold the Audition button to preview chord progression. Each chord in the progression will be sounded sequentially far as long as the mouse button is held down.
Select the “Save Progression…” menu item from the component pane pop-up menu to save a chord progression as a new Progression Preset.
Chord Events
Chord progressions can also be created by manually entering events. Each component event represents a chord and optional scale. Each time an event is created (or edited) the following event editor opens:
The chord and scales lists displays all the chords and scales currently saved in the composition resources repository.
- Specify a Chord Root and Chord Type.
- [Optionally] Specify an Alternate Bass.
- [Optionally] Specify a Scale Root and Scale Type.
- Click OK.
Composition Component
Every project has one Composition Component that serves as a ‘container’ for all other components. The Composition properties establish some basic defaults for a project.
Composition Properties
Composition properties establish default global composition parameter values such as length, key signature, and time signature. Other components or algorithms can modify most of these parameter values, with the exception of composition length, during the composition process. Open the composition’s Property Editor by selecting the Properties…’ menu item from a component pane’s popup menu.
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The General tab displays the current composition length and Key Signature/Tonality.
Use the drop-down combos to specify default Major/Minor/Mode.
Select the ATONAL option to allow any pitch to be generated with equal pitch weights for each pitch class. |
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The Meter tab is used to specify certain properties related to composition meter including a starting Time Signature. See also Displaying Multiple Time Signatures.
ArtSong uses a ‘base duration unit’ to establish a basic grid against which all note attack points and durations are measured. Click on the ‘arrow’ for a drop-down menu of durational values.
The ‘metric threshold’ value defines a numerical dividing line between ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ beats. Several components have options that can be aligned to strong or weak beats. (A Meter algorithm is required) |
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When using any tonal setting these sliders allow you to control the relative weighting for each individual pitch-class.
This feature allows you to add varying degrees of chromaticity to tonal compositions or to emphasizing certain pitch classes for modal compositions.
These weights have no effect when using the ATONAL key signature setting. |
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