Melodic segmentation: structure, cognition, algorithms

Abstract

Segmentation of melodies into smaller units (phrases, themes, motifs, etc.) is an important process in both music analysis and music cognition. Also, segmentation is a necessary preprocessing step for various tasks in music information retrieval. Several algorithms for automatic segmentation have been proposed, based on different music-theoretical backgrounds and computing approaches. Rule-based models operate on a given set of logical conditions. Learning-based models, originating in linguistics, compute segmentation criteria on the basis of statistical parameters of a training corpus and/or of the given composition. The aim of this preliminary study is to propose and describe a new segmentation algorithm that is rule-based, parsimonious, and unambiguous.

Keywords

• segmentation
• melody
• phrase
• motif
• music information retrieval