Towards emotion based music generation: A tonal tension model based on the spiral array

AbstractTension is an integral part of the music listening experience, closely connected to the sensing of emotions. We have explored how a particular aspect of tension, tonal tension, can be modelled and used to guide for automatic music generation. A model was developed for extracting three aspects of tonal tension from a musical score. The model is based on the spiral array, a three-dimensional model for tonality developed by Chew (2014). This was then integrated in an online interactive system, for easy visualisation, in sync with audio and score. Finally, the tension model was included in a state-of-the-art music generation system called MorpheuS, whereby we use tension to guide the underlying tension fabric of the generated music.


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