A Markov Chain Analysis of John K. Samson's Music

Abstract

Music is an important part of the human experience. Artists may have a tendency towards certain chords due to their vocal range, the mood of certain chords, or just habit. We study the progression of one chord sequence to another within two albums by the Canadian group The Weakerthans, written by John K Samson. Based on the movement between chords we construct a finite Markov chain. We analyze the properties of this Markov chain, and we interpret the results in musical terms.

Discipline: Mathematical Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cristina Anton