Can the evolution of music be analyzed in a quantitative manner?

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantitative methodology using multivariate statistics and bootstrap simulations to analyze the development and influence among composers based on musical features.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to quantify stylistic differences, influence, and innovation among composers through geometrical and statistical analysis.

Findings

Bach and Stockhausen differ significantly from other composers.

Strong influence and dialectics are observed among certain composers.

Opposition is less prominent in music compared to philosophy.

Abstract

We propose a methodology to study music development by applying multivariate statistics on composers characteristics. Seven representative composers were considered in terms of eight main musical features. Grades were assigned to each characteristic and their correlations were analyzed. A bootstrap method was applied to simulate hundreds of artificial composers influenced by the seven representatives chosen. Afterwards we quantify non-numeric relations like dialectics, opposition and innovation. Composers differences on style and technique were represented as geometrical distances in the feature space, making it possible to quantify, for example, how much Bach and Stockhausen differ from other composers or how much Beethoven influenced Brahms. In addition, we compared the results with a prior investigation on philosophy. Opposition, strong on philosophy, was not remarkable on music. Supporting an observation already considered by music theorists, strong influences were identified between composers by the quantification of dialectics, implying inheritance and suggesting a stronger master-disciple evolution when compared to the philosophy analysis.