Description of the Project

Aruspix has been developed with early typographic music prints in mind, meaning mainly those scores printed during the 16th and 17th centuries with movable typefaces. Such scores are often difficult to examine with existing superimposition and optical recognition software, as they present a number of specific layout and format problems and are quite often in a deteriorated state because of their age.

What does it do?

The printing techniques of that time mean that differences can exist between copies produced in the same print run, and comparison of these copies by superimposition can enable more accurate critical editions to be prepared. Digitalising the scores through optical recognition can enable us to collate different editions regardless of layout, and will also be useful in the preparation of digital music libraries, for example. Aruspix integrates the features of optical recognition, superimposition, and collation techniques with a viewer and music editor for visualisation of the results.

What possibilities does it offer?

In addition to the comparison of early musical sources for which it was initially developed, Aruspix offers future possibilities in other areas thanks to the optical recognition it performs. The creation of digital music libraries is one field of possible future development, as is the compilation of a widespread user-accessible database, searchable by musical content, of the recognized results.

Where is it being developed?

Aruspix was developed initially as part of a research project led by Prof. Etienne Darbellay of the Department of Musicology, Geneva University, Switzerland. It has been the basis of a Bachelor's degree in Computing and a PhD thesis in Musicology, both presented by Laurent Pugin at Geneva University.

Development continues as part of research project at the Distributed Digital Music Archives and Library Lab, Music Technology Area, Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, under the supervision of Prof. Ichiro Fujinaga. One of the objectives is to extend the application of Aruspix to include earlier sources that may also include handwritten manuscripts.

The software application is presently being used in the preparation of a complete edition of the secular works of Luca Marenzio. This project is being developed in collaboration with scholars from Harvard University (USA), Geneva University (Switzerland), Bologna University (Italy), L'Aquila University (Italy) and McGill University (Canada).

Grants

The project is funded or plays a significant role in the following grants:

• ‘Marenzio online digital edition’ (NEH; Critical Edition Grant, 3 years; PI Mauro Calcagno, CO-PI Giuseppe Gerbino, July 2011; $125,000).
• ‘Single interface for music score searching and analysis’ (SSHRC; Partnership Development Grant, 3 years; PI Ichiro Fujinaga, CO-PI Julie E. Cumming and George Tzanetakis, April 2011; $141,393).
• ‘Printed Sacred Music in Europe, 1500-1800: Switzerland and the Alpine region as crossroads for production, circulation and reception of catholic musical repertoire’ (SNF; 3 years; PI Luca Zoppelli, October 2010; CHF 522,715).
• ‘Optical music recognition for plainchant’ (SSHRC; Standard Research Grant, 3 years; PI Ichiro Fujinaga, March 2010; $141,393).
• ‘Incorporating lyrics into optical recognition technology for early vocal music sources’ (SSHRC; Image, Text, Sound and Technology Grant, 1 year; December 2007; $49,932).
• ‘Enhancing optical music recognition technology of early music prints and manuscripts for musicological applications’ (SSHRC; Image, Text, Sound and Technology Grant, 1 year; PI Ichiro Fujinaga, December 2006; $49,943).
• ‘Feasibility of digitizing early music on microfilms for the creation of large-scale content-searchable databases’ (SSHRC; Standard Research Grant, 3 years; PI Ichiro Fujinaga, August 2005; $145,838).
• ‘Musique baroque à Rome : étude historique, documentaire et philologique des sources’ (SNF; 4 years; PI Etienne Darbellay, December 2000; $365,495).

Last update: 22 Nov 2011
Laurent Pugin