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A quantum-like semantic analysis of ambiguity in music

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Abstract

Is it possible and interesting to analyze ambiguity in music by means of logical methods? We give a positive answer to this question in the framework of an abstract semantics suggested by the theory of quantum information. The concepts of quantum superposition and of entanglement are used for a formal representation of musical thoughts, which are dealt with as a kind of holistic intensional meanings. We discuss, in particular, the following subjects: (1) the abstract concept of musical theme. (2) The critical relationship between text and music in the case of Lieder. (3) The semantic role of Leitmotive in Wagner’ s operas.

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Notes

  1. For technical details, see Dalla Chiara et al. (2010, 2015). Some basic intuitive ideas of the quantum computational semantics are close to the “quantum theory of concepts” that has been studied, for instance, in Aerts and Gabora (2005a, b); Aerts and Sozzo 2014). The technical developments of the two approaches are, however, different.

  2. See Dalla Chiara et al. (2012).

  3. In a bright little brook/ there shot in merry haste/ a capricious trout:/ past it shot like an arrow.

  4. In einem Bächlein helle, da schoss in froher Eil, die launische Forelle, vorüber wie ein Pfeil.

  5. A. Schönberg,“Das Verhältniss zum Text”, Der Blaue Reiter, München, 1912. English translation of the author in Style and Idea, Philosophical Library, New York, 1950.

  6. Know’st thou the land where the lemons flower, / ’Mid shady leaves the golden oranges glow, / A gentle breeze blows from a blue heaven, / The tranquil myrtle and the bay trees thrive?/ Know’st thou it? / Thither, oh my love, / I long to go with thee! / Know’st thou the house? On pillars rests its roof, / The hall is bright, the chambers dimly glow, / And statues stand and gaze down on me; / Poor child, what have they done to thee? / Know’st thou it? /Thither, oh my protector, / I long to go with thee! / Know’st thou the mountain and its cloudy path? / In the mist a mule picks its way, / In caves the dragon’s ancient brood doth dwell; / The rocks will tumble, and after them the flood. / Know’st thou it?/ Our way leads thither,/ Father, let us go!

References

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  • Dalla Chiara ML, Giuntini R, Leporini R, Sergioli G (2015) A first-order epistemic quantum computational semantics with relativistic-like epistemic effects. Fuzzy Sets Syst (to appear)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Lettere e Filosofia, Università di Firenze, Via Bolognese 52, 50139, Florence, Italy

    Maria Luisa Dalla Chiara

  2. Dipartimento di Pedagogia, Psicologia, Filosofia, Università di Cagliari, Via Is Mirrionis 1, 09123, Cagliari, Italy

    Roberto Giuntini

  3. Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, Via delle Fontanelle 24, 50014, San Domenico di Fiesole, Italy

    Antonino Riccardo Luciani & Eleonora Negri

Authors
  1. Maria Luisa Dalla Chiara
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  2. Roberto Giuntini
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  3. Antonino Riccardo Luciani
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  4. Eleonora Negri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Luisa Dalla Chiara.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by M. L. Dalla Chiara, R. Giuntini, E. Negri and S. Smets.

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Dalla Chiara, M.L., Giuntini, R., Luciani, A.R. et al. A quantum-like semantic analysis of ambiguity in music. Soft Comput 21, 1473–1481 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-015-1895-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-015-1895-y

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