A Hardware-Oriented Algorithm for Real-Time Music Key Signature Recognition

The algorithm presented in this paper provides the means for the real-time recognition of the key signature associated with a given piece of music, based on the analysis of a very small number of initial notes. The algorithm can easily be implemented in electronic musical instruments, enabling real-time generation of musical notation. The essence of the solution proposed herein boils down to the analysis of a music signature, defined as a set of twelve vectors representing the particular pitch classes. These vectors are anchored in the center of the circle of fifths, pointing radially towards each of the twelve tones of the chromatic scale. Besides a thorough description of the algorithm, the authors also present a theoretical introduction to the subject matter. The results of the experiments performed on preludes and fugues by J.S. Bach, as well as the preludes, nocturnes, and etudes of F. Chopin, validating the usability of the method, are also presented and thoroughly discussed. Additionally, the paper includes a comparison of the efficacies obtained using the developed solution with the efficacies observed in the case of music notation generated by a musical instrument of a reputable brand, which clearly indicates the superiority of the proposed algorithm.

Isaac Newton's Microtonal Approach to Just Intonation

In 1665 Isaac Newton wrote a notebook in which he collected materials for a musical treatise which was never completed. He investigated ways of approximately representing just intonation scales by dividing the octave into many equally sized intervals. Strictly speaking, equal divisions of the octave are incompatible with just intonation, and just intonation intervals are audibly different from the intervals played on a modern equally tempered modern piano. By increasing the number of parts of an equal division, just intonation can be approximated arbitrarily well. Scales with more than 60 microtonal steps per octave, however, never gained wide acceptance in music theory or practice. Newton divided the octave into 612 equal parts so that he could represent the syntonic chromatic scale very accurately and he studied several equal divisions of the octave with fewer parts. His approximation problem is looked at in three ways: (1) A reconstruction of how he determined the many EDO-representations listed in the notebook is given. (2) Using computer programs Newton's tuning problem is solved "empirically" through calculating and evaluating the related approximations comprehensively. (3) The findings from the computer-assisted analysis are used to develop a more general geometric approach to the approximation problem.

The Pythagorean comma and preference for a stretched octave

Pythagorean tuning, which derives all musical intervals of a Western chromatic scale from repeated application of a fifth and subsequent reduction (collapse) into a single octave, results in an octave interval slightly larger than 2:1, and the difference between a Pythagorean octave and a 2:1 octave is referred to as the Pythagorean comma. Empirical studies suggest that listeners prefer a stretched octave, that is, an octave interval slightly larger than 2:1. The magnitudes of the Pythagorean comma and of the stretch from a 2:1 ratio in preferred octave tuning are similar, and it is suggested these phenomena might be connected. Implications of such a similarity that are addressed include (a) how the Pythagorean comma predicts preference for a stretched octave, (b) rejection of uncertainties in tuning as a cause of preference for a stretched octave, (c) how the Pythagorean comma and preference for a stretched octave might be related to tension and musical aesthetics, (d) the nature of “scales” and “intervals” in musical and psychophysical senses, (e) the role of motion through auditory pitch space in the Pythagorean comma and preference for a stretched octave, and (f) incorporation of elements of Pythagorean tuning into the representation of the octave.

Analysis of Carl Joachim Andersen Op.15 Flute Etudes Used in Flute Education

In this study, it was aimed to examine C. J. Andersen’s op.15 etude book used in flute education in terms of measurement units, vocalization techniques, technical studies, nuance terms, speed terms, tonality. Thus it is aimed to reveal the gains that the etudes can provide for the student. Document analysis method was used in the study. The summary of results as follows. Etudes are mostly written in 4/4 unit of measure. It was found that mostly legato and staccato was used a great extent in the etudes. Interval was run the most in the etudes. Also etudes include technical studies such as arpeggio, chromatic scale, scale studies, and tonality. The terms crescendo and decrescendo nuances were used in all of the etudes. Mezzoforte, forte and piano nuances were also included in the etudes. Allegro and its varieties have been used as the term of speed in most of the etudes. In the etudes, 24 different tones were used, 12 of them in major tones and 12 of them in minor tones. Tone, measure and tempo changes were made in some etudes. Considering the results, Andersen’s op.15 etude book systematically covers many issues in terms of flute education. Etudes can provide to the student in flute education both in technical and musical gains; legato, tongue technique, articulation, interval, arpeggio, intonation, chromatic scale, phrasing, good breathing technique, a quality tone and a correct blowing angle. Instead of playing a etude book from the beginning to the end, the student’s difficulties can be eliminated by conducting etudes on whatever subject he/she has inadequate or difficulty. With this analysis, the topics in the etudes can be classified and presented in line with the needs of the students.

Darker Skin Color Measured by Von Luschan Chromatic Scale and Increased Sunlight Exposure Time Are Independently Associated with Decreased Odds of Vitamin D Deficiency in Thai Ambulatory Patients

Background. Little is known about the association among skin color, sunlight exposure. and vitamin D status in Southeast Asian population. Objective. To investigate the association between skin color measured by von Luschan chromatic scale (VLCS) and vitamin D status in Thai medical ambulatory patients. Methods. Medical ambulatory patients were enrolled. The eligibility criteria were as follows: aged >18 years, stable medical conditions, and no conditions directly affecting vitamin D status. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were assessed. Skin color at the outer forearm was assessed using VLCS which grades skin color from the lightest score of 1 to the darkest score of 36. Patients were systematically interviewed to estimate daily sunlight exposure time. Results. A total of 334 patients were enrolled. Data were expressed as mean ± SD. The mean serum 25(OH)D was 25.21 ± 10.06 ng/mL. There were 17 (5.1%), 217 (65.0%), and 100 (29.9%) patients who had light brown (VLCS score 18–20), medium brown (VLCS score 21–24), and dark brown (VLCS score 25–27) skin colors, respectively. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was higher in patients with dark brown skin than in patients with medium brown and light brown skin (28.31 ± 10.34 vs. 24.28 ± 9.57 and 19.43 ± 9.92 ng/mL, respectively, both p < 0.05 ). Multivariate analysis showed that darker skin color and increased sunlight exposure time were independently associated with decreased odds of vitamin D deficiency (dark brown vs. light brown: odds ratio, 0.263, 95% CI: 0.081–0.851, p = 0.026 ; medium brown vs. light brown: odds ratio, 0.369, 95% CI: 0.987–1.003, p = 0.067 ; sunlight exposure time odds ratio per 1 minute/day increase 0.955, 95% CI: 0.991–1.000, p = 0.037 ), after adjusting for possible confounders. Conclusions. We found that darker skin color at sunlight exposure area and increased sunlight exposure time were independently associated with decreased odds of vitamin D deficiency in Thai medical ambulatory patients.

Cents versus scale steps: Can we tell the difference between major and minor thirds?

We report an experiment in which participants ( N = 368) were asked to differentiate between major and minor thirds. These intervals could either be formed by diatonic tones from the C major scale (tonal condition) or by a subset of tones from the chromatic scale (atonal condition). We hypothesized that in the tonal condition intervals would be perceived as a function of scale step distances, which we defined as the number of diatonic leaps between two notes of a given music scale. In the atonal condition, we hypothesized that intervals would be perceived as a function of cents. If our hypotheses were supported, we should verify a less accurate performance in the tonal condition, where scale step distances are the same between major and minor thirds. The data corroborated our hypotheses, and we suggest that acoustic measurements of intervallic distances (i.e., frequency ratios and cents) are not optimal when it comes to describing the perceptual quality of intervals in a tonal context. Finally, our research points to the possibility that, in comparison with previous models, scale steps and cents might better capture the notion of global versus local instances of auditory processing.

Successful Treatment of Freckles by Alex Trivantage Laser Wavelight 755 nm in Vietnamese Patients

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Alex Trivantage laser wavelength 755 nm (ATL) in the treatment of freckles at Hanoi Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Vietnam. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 30 patients with freckles were treated by ATL (Alex Trivantage-Candela Co America) with spots size 3 mm, wavelength 755 mm, and energy 5-6 j/cm2. All the patients were treated 2 times with 4-weeks interval. The results were evaluated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment. The colour of the lesions was evaluated by using Von-Luchan’s chromatic scale and Visia® complex analysis system. Brown spot index (BSI) was calculated by the VISA complexion analysis system devices. The data was analysed by SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: After 2 times of treatment, the lesion colour of all of the patients had been improved. The good and very good levels of improvement were noted in 63.3% of patients; there was 26.7% of them had partial improvement. Brown spots index was significantly improved (39.13 ± 20.66 before and 54.23 ± 16.78 after treatment; p < 0.001). Hyperpigmentation was noted in 6.7% of patients. CONCLUSION: freckles have been improved by treatment with Alex trivantage laser wavelength 755 nm with safety.