Music and Symmetry
Dmitri Tymoczko (Princeton University, and Santa Fe Institute)
Abstract: Almost all music is concerned with three fundamental properties: pulse, pitch, and transformed repetition. Many musical transformations are invertible, and hence generate symmetry groups. Symmetry groups in turn give rise to a rich network of mathematical structures including quotient spaces and the fundamental group. This conceptual network originally appeared in conjunction with continuous spaces, but recent work has shown it to be universal. My talk will outline this universal structure and explore some of its consequences, not just for making and understanding music, but also for thinking about larger philosophical questions.
Speaker's bio: Dmitri Tymoczko is a composer and theorist who teaches at Princeton university and is affiliated with the Santa Fe Institute.
Moderator's bio: Ted Theodosopoulos is a mathematician who, after working for years in academia and industry, transitioned to teaching at the pre-college level sixteen years ago, the last eight at Nueva, where he teaches math and economics. Ted’s research background is in the area of interacting stochastic systems, with particular applications in biology and economics.
Computer scienceMathematics
Audience: researchers in the topic
Series comments: The name "Relatorium" combines "relator" with the Latin root "-ium," meaning "a place for activities" (as in "auditorium" or "gymnasium"). This seminar series is a platform to relate ideas, interact with math, and connect with each other.
In this series, we explore math beyond what we usually hear in standard talks. These sessions fall somewhere between a technical talk and a podcast: moderately formal, yet conversational. The philosophy behind the series is that math is best learned by active participation rather than passive listening. Our aim is to “engage and involve,” inviting everyone to think actively with the speaker. The concepts are accessible, exploratory, and intended to spark questions and discussions.
The idea of relatability has strong ties to compassion — creating space for shared understanding and exploration - which is the spirit of this seminar! This is a pilot project, so we’re here to improvise, learn, and evolve as we go!
| Organizers: | Priyaa Varshinee*, Tim Hosgood*, Niels Voorneveld*, Irfan Alam* |
| *contact for this listing |