Fractal Music
The 18 short pieces and 2 longer compositions which constitute "Curves and Jars" are based upon a series of eight-note melodies. These were generated randomly by a dice algorithm, using the 1/f noise equation formulated by Voss. The melodies are randomly correlated - they do not sound as erratic as music based upon white noise, nor as rigid as music based upon brown noise. The 1/f noise equation is found in nature, in the geometry of irregular forms such as coastlines, rivers, clouds and star clusters. Taking his cue from this suggestive meeting of order and chaos, Barry Lewis imposed familiar musical grids upon the fractal melodies, using computer software. He divided the material into "Curves" and "Jars", two shorthand terms for music which is predominantly ambient or rhythmic.
