Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Обычная таблица"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Presentation by Stefan Schmidt and Franziska Leonhardi

On May 27th Stefan E. Schmidt, Institute of Algebra, Polytechnic University of Drezden, and Franziska Leonhardi, artist, will deliver their presentation entitled ‘MusicàMathàArtsàMusicà'at the HSE School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics. 

Abstract: Among those pioneering mathematicians who shed some light on the world of music theory, we want to mention Pythagoras and Leonhard Euler, and more contemporary, Rudolf Wille and Guerino Mazzola. Their common objective was the description of phenomena of music via mathematical means, that is, they came up with a mathematical modeling of music theory. While Pythagoras and Euler developed a theory of proportions and harmony, Wille and Mazzola sketched out a set-theoretic approach which is closely related to category theory. A systematic description of tone, chroma, and interval is given in Wille's and Neumeier's "extensional standard language"for music theory;also concepts like sound (pattern) and harmony (pattern) are strictly defined in a formal mathematical fashion, which contrasts the more ambiguous use in classical music theory.

The fundamental modeling idea is a psychoacoustic one, which is not primarily based on physics. For example, a fifth plus a fourth is an octave, while in physics the proportion of the fifth multiplied by the proportion of the fourth is the proportion of an octave, that is, (3:2)x(4:3)=1:2.

Our presentation will differ from a usual lecture style since we aim to combine a traditional mathematical modeling approach with semiotics using graph theory and category theory. This will lead us to the fundamental notion of a tone structure where a covariant functor transforms syntactical intervals into semantic ones. Our considerations will be put into the framework of a general theory of measurement.

In a second part, we will connect the previous with arts. In particular, we will discuss how one may be able to see music. Can mathematics help to give people some good visual experience of music? What can we say about relationships between mathematics, arts and music involving sign language? We will present how collaboration with the artist Franziska Leonhardi in a project www.paulus2011.de has raised questions about the visualization of music using fine arts and mathematics. Can the oratorio of Mendelssohn Bartholdy be experienced by deaf people?

The mathematical language involving semiotics will be confronted with semiotics used in arts of different cultures around the world. Our presentation itself should be considered as a contribution which aims to experience mathematics within a greater cultural context.

Everyone is cordially invited to the interdisciplinary lecture jointly given by the mathematician and musician Prof. Dr. Stefan E. Schmidt, Dresden University of Technology, and by Franziska Leonhardi, artist for painting/graphic/other visual media www.franziska-leonhardi.de.

Start time:3 p.m.

Address:11 Pokrovskiy Bulvar, room D 316.

All HSE staff and students are welcome to attend!