Fugue: a functional language for sound synthesis

Author

Dannenberg, Roger B. ; Fraley, Christopher Lee ; Velikonja, Peter

Author_Institution

Sch. of Comput. Sci., Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Volume

24

Issue

7

fYear

1991

fDate

7/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

36

Lastpage

42

Abstract

A description is given of Fugue, a language that lets composers express signal processing algorithms for sound synthesis, musical scores, and higher level musical procedures all in one language. Fugue provides functions to create and manipulate sounds as abstract, immutable objects. The interactive language supports behavioral abstraction, so composers can manage complex musical structures. Fugue´s capabilities and an example of a score it generated are examined. The implementation of Fugue in a combination of C and XLisp, to run on Unix workstations, is discussed. An example of how Fugue´s implementation of lazy evaluation works is given. Future extensions and applications of Fugue are indicated.<>

Keywords

acoustic signal processing; functional programming; high level languages; music; C; Fugue; Unix workstations; XLisp; behavioral abstraction; complex musical structures; functional language; interactive language; lazy evaluation; musical scores; signal processing algorithms; sound synthesis; Analog computers; Data structures; Instruments; LAN interconnection; Music; Real time systems; Signal generators; Signal processing algorithms; Signal synthesis; Software systems;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9162

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2.84834

Filename

84834