Melodizer : a constraint programming tool for computer-aided musical composition

This master's thesis presents the design of a tool aiming to assist composers in their creation process. It uses constraint programming to enforce musical rules through two constraint satisfaction problems (CSP). This thesis is built on an already existing thesis focused on rhythm, and is as a result more pitch oriented. Gecode, a powerful constraint solver, is used to model the musical problems in terms of constraints. OpenMusic, a visual programming and composition environment based on Lisp is used to represent the musical aspect of this thesis, and as a support for Melodizer. GiL, an interface between Gecode and Lisp, is used to connect Gecode and OpenMusic and allow for the creation of constraint problems in a musical environment. A tool, Melodizer, is designed to help composers increase their expression and composition abilities by using constraints to generate melodies. It provides an intuitive and interactive interface making it easy for composers to customize their problem by giving input and setting parameters such as solution variety or optional constraints, and allowing him or her to edit any proposed solution. Two CSPs allow Melodizer to model a variety of problems using a set of mandatory and optional constraints. It does not aim to generate ready-to-use music but rather to provide interesting out-of-the-box ideas for composers. It provides a solid base towards a bigger picture allowing composers to create symphonies from a similar tool. If you are a composer, we suggest you look at chapter 7 first. It contains a variety of concrete examples of what Melodizer can be used for. Each of these examples comes with a video allowing you to hear the result, along with a small explanation on how to reproduce the same result using Melodizer in OpenMusic.