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Found: MELODY COMPOSING TOOL "The Palette"

Posted

I found this old program, intended to build melodies conform musical rules (Author Ilya Schepikhin)

[Links: on the foot of this post].

INFO by the author (fragment).

                ..........  Musical Palette program is a tool for the creation of 'theoretically correct' melodies.

              The program is based on composition theory and the theory of harmony. The strong theoretical base  makes the melody composing process easier.

              The program contains demo scripts, which show how to use the program, and how to compose the melodies.

             The program represents the melody in a structure that is analogue to the structure of common speech. There are words (motives), phrases, sentences. Such an approach allows a simple and effective algorithm to be applied to the composition of melodies.

             The program implements twelve methods of motive development. Some of them are listed here: variation; inversion; repetition; sequence and so on. These methods similar to the visual effects in graphical editors. The program suggests the 'theoretically correct' algorithm for the melody creation. The main advantage of the algorithm is: we take some existing part of a melody (motive or phrase) and apply the methods of motive development (for example, variation) to this motive of phrase to create a new motive or phrase of the melody  ............

Screenshots:

My first impression of the program after only a glimpse:

  • PRO: The program has a original approach.
  • PRO: With the program you can develop variation inside a structure of 2 – 4 – 8 – 16 bars (the basis of most Western Culture Music.)
  • PRO: The “manual” gives usable ideas about melody building, also outside this program. Usable as a learning tool. (Comparable to 50 pages).
  • PRO: Lessons, in program (comparable to 23 pages)
  • PRO: Many demos and Examples. Many from 2011.
  • PRO: Free downloadable (Since 2010 under Freeware License, copyrighted).
  • CON: The GUI, especially the part about harmony, is complex and confusing.
  • CON: Old: last update 2008.
  • ??:     There are 2 versions with different GUI. Not clear what’s the best. Release dates are in other order than version numbers.
  • ??:     (Gives possibly some extra inspirational ideas for the new adaptations on melody tools Andre is working on?    http://users.cognitone.com/comment/16128#comment-16128

REVIEW on the program site:

" .... It should be noted that the program does not belong to the  'Auto-composer' class ....

   .... The program does the hard work for you and keeps you within the limits of music theory. It suggests the variants of a melody and harmony, but the choice of an appropriate variant is yours ...."    (Yury Petelin, 2005)

LINKS:

DOWNLOAD:         http://palette-mct.com/download.html

MANUAL:                  http://www.palette-mct.com/manual_eng/table_of_contents.html

Do read in this context "The PreVaDe Technique" (janamdo, oct 1, 2017):     

                                         http://users.cognitone.com/topic/prevade-technique

My final comment:    I find it interesting. But diving more deeply is not my priority for now. Anyone else?

 

 


Fri, 2017-11-10 - 11:09 Permalink

I know this program "the palette"  too for a long time ago.

My final comment:    I find it interesting. But diving more deeply is not my priority for now. Anyone else?

I agree with you it is a lot of work to get results and it is not a complete method for composing in general.
It think can be useful to study this program to get better results from the PREVADE technique.

In this program there are two ways to develop a motive and produce a phrase

  • the first method is to repeat motive
  • the second method is to compare it with another motive..that is : a new motive can be derived from the source motive or contrasted to the source motive

This is analog for (p)revade technique : repetition-variation-destruction  seems to me