1-dim Penrose tiling = "musical sequence"? Why?

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of the term "musical sequence" to describe aperiodic intervals in a one-dimensional Penrose tiling. The speaker has come across this term in various sources but does not understand the connection between aperiodicity and music. They share their unsuccessful attempts to find an explanation, including a reference to Martin Gardner who credits John Horton Conway with coining the term. The conversation also touches on the possible analogy to song forms and the origin of the term "Ammann bars" in Penrose tilings. Ultimately, the reason for the term remains unknown and is attributed to Conway's love for games and creativity.
  • #1
nomadreid
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In several places (e.g., page 12 of http://www.cs.williams.edu/~bailey/06le.pdf), I have come across the aperiodic intervals in a one-dimensional Penrose tiling as "musical sequences". I do not see the connection between aperiodicity and music.
The history of a fruitless but amusing search:
(a) The best I could find is that the timbre of a hoarse voice, such as whispering, uses aperiodicity vibrations of the vocal chords, (but that doesn't help.)
(b) Amusingly enough, when I used included the key words "Amman bars", which can be used to generate the 1-d aperiodic tilings, Google gives me primarily sites about pubs in the capital of Jordan.
(c) Martin Gardner (https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/pubs/focus/Gardner_PenroseTilings1-1977.pdf) says that Conway invented the name "musical sequence" in this context, but Gardner just labels them "Fibonacci sequences". Then, a search for Conway and Fibonacci Sequences turns up the fact that there is a classical music ensemble called "Fibonacci Sequences" which gave a concert in Conway Hall in London.
So, does anyone know why the name "musical sequence" is appropriate here?
 
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  • #3
Thanks, Asymptotic. They do define what is meant by musical sequence "The spacing between bars is either long or short. In these musical sequences a short cannot follow a short and a long cannot follow two longs." and "In musical sequences a long interval can follow another long interval but a short interval must follow two long intervals, and a short interval must be followed by a long one." However, I still do not see what this has to do with music.
 
  • #4
I'm thinking the analogy is to song forms. For example, AAA is common in traditional folk (think "House of the Rising Sun") where the same figure is repeated ad infinitum, AABA is perhaps the most prevalent (here is a good run down on AABA), while other forms include AABB, ABAB, and so on, sometimes interspersed with C, D, or more discrete sections.
 
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  • #5
Thanks, Asymptotic. That is as good a guess as I suppose is possible without a definitive answer from Conway (John Horton) himself. He's 80 now, and trying to get an answer from him would probably not be a Good Thing. Unfortunately, as I do not have access to a decent academic library (for access, for example, to the three books of Conway's that Gardner cites) and the Internet comes up with nothing (unless I wanted to order all those books), I will have to assume that Conway's love of music made him stretch an analogy a bit far. Or maybe this is what music looks like for the "creatures" from Conway's Game of Life.
 
  • #6
They're well described in Grünbaum and Shephard's book Tilings and Patterns (chapter 10, section about Ammann bars in Penrose tilings). They say Conway chose this name, like he chose the names of the vertex configurations like Jack, Queen and King... so I guess it's basically about fun and games :)
 

FAQ: 1-dim Penrose tiling = "musical sequence"? Why?

1. What is a 1-dim Penrose tiling?

A 1-dim Penrose tiling is a type of mathematical tiling that is composed of a single line segment. It is named after British mathematician Roger Penrose and is known for its aperiodic, non-repeating pattern.

2. How is a 1-dim Penrose tiling related to music?

The musical sequence, also known as the "golden string", is derived from the 1-dim Penrose tiling. The sequence is created by assigning musical notes to each segment of the tiling, resulting in a melody that follows the aperiodic pattern of the tiling.

3. Why is the musical sequence derived from a 1-dim Penrose tiling considered significant?

The musical sequence is significant because it demonstrates the connection between mathematics and music. It also showcases the beauty and complexity of the aperiodic patterns found in nature.

4. How is the musical sequence used in scientific research?

The musical sequence has been used in various scientific studies, particularly in the field of physics. It has been found to have a close relationship with the energy spectrum of quantum systems and has been used to study the properties of quasicrystals.

5. Can the musical sequence be applied in other areas besides science?

Yes, the musical sequence has also been used in art and music compositions. It has been incorporated into musical pieces and visual art to showcase the connection between mathematics and creativity.

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