of Microprocessors

4 MUSICAL ApPLICATIONS OF MICROPROCESSORS
ogy. Modern electronic technology allows the des"ign ofcompact instruments
with a wider range of sounds and more precise player control of the sounds
than had been previously available. Also of significance is the fact that these
new instruments are often much easier to play. Perhaps the ultimate- in
playing ease is a programmable instrument such as a digital computer. Since
time need no longer be a factor, very intricate, fast-moving music may be
played as easily as it can be written down.
Often traditionalists, who may have spent many years perfecting the
skills necessary to play traditional instruments, are loudly opposed to the
utilization of this new technology.because to them music so produced is
artificial and mechanical. Nevertheless, there is no essential difference between
the use of piston valve technology in trumpet design and computer
programming technology in organ design. It is still the responsibility of the
composer and performer to produce desirable musical results.
At this point it would be wise to develop a working definition of
music. Most physics texts define a musical sound as one that possesses a
degree of regularity, while noise as a sound does not possess such regularity.
Clearly, this alone is not sufficient, since a snare drum beat would be classified
as noise and fluorescent light buzz as music by this definition.
The arrangement, in time, of component sounds is as important as the
sounds themselves. Furthermore, this arrangement must be orderly to be
musical. However, excessive orderliness leads to boredom.
So far nothing has been said about the emotional aspect of music
composition and performance. True, some of the world's best music has a
strong emotional appeal but that alone is not sufficient. A mortal cry of
anguish appeals emotionally to all who hear it but is certainly not music. A
well-executed display of sound can be just as interesting to the ear as a
fireworks display is to the eye.
In summary, then, good music must be composed of sounds that have
regular vibrations but with enough variation to be continuously interesting.
Likewise, the arrangement of sounds must be orderly but with enough
variety to maintain interest. Music may either express an emotional point or
merely be a spectacular display of sound. Above all, good music must hold
the attention of the listener.
Goals of Music Synthesis
Certainly, all who study electronic music techniques in general and
particularly the readers of this book must have some goal in mind. The vast
majority of young music students today are still educated. solely on the
traditional musical instruments such as piano, organ, or any ofa multitude of
band and orchestra instruments. Most often this involvement is not completely
spontaneous but rather is encouraged by parents and teachers, often as
the result of a musical aptitude test. Children who get into music on their