MusicDNA
Encyclopedia
musicDNA is a file system that consists of an ontology that describes the underlying structure of the events that make up musical history - "who did what, where, and when" together with a set of user interfaces that allow subscribers to view, add and edit entries. musicDNA is implemented using a specially developed version of Topic Maps. musicDNA uses "persistent subject identifiers" to refer to subjects or topics and an ontology
or "conceptual reference model" to describe the relationships between those subjects.
, and was created by Antony Pitts
. This charted the history of Western music during previous millennia. The programme was broadcast from 0600 31 December 1999 to 0005 1 January 2000. The accompanying site used a novel navigational tool which presented each item in the broadcast as an element in a timeline view. In subsequent research Antony Pitts combined the horizontal time dimension with a vertical aesthetic journey, moving from inspiration to reception, to enable a multi-dimensional browsing interface.
The site was picked by the Royal Academy of Music
as the starting point for its RAMline music index. Funded by HEIF3 and the Centre for Distance Education
the project sought to offer a way of consolidating existing resources, making them accessible to students, staff, and the general public.
The research team - including John Drinkwater
and Hannah Riddell
- then moved their research to a commercial environment working with development budget provided by Brussels-based Pensive SA. This quickly resulted in musicGPS, an application for the iPhone
. released 30 September 2009, which records the details of what the user listened to, including time and place, and allows navigation and filtering of the resultant timeline. All data recorded is uploadable to the musicDNA database.
Ontology
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality as such, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations...
or "conceptual reference model" to describe the relationships between those subjects.
History
musicDNA began life as a website supporting BBC Radio's 18-hour programme, The Unfinished SymphonyThe Unfinished Symphony
The Unfinished Symphony is a 2005 documentary that examines issues experienced by people surviving cancer in Canada. The film is directed by Nicholas Arnold.-Summary:...
, and was created by Antony Pitts
Antony Pitts
Antony Pitts is a British composer, producer and conductor.His compositions have been published by Faber Music, with 2 CDs of choral music on Hyperion Records and other recordings on Harmonia Mundi, Naxos, and Unknown Public. He was a Senior Producer at BBC Radio 3 until 2005...
. This charted the history of Western music during previous millennia. The programme was broadcast from 0600 31 December 1999 to 0005 1 January 2000. The accompanying site used a novel navigational tool which presented each item in the broadcast as an element in a timeline view. In subsequent research Antony Pitts combined the horizontal time dimension with a vertical aesthetic journey, moving from inspiration to reception, to enable a multi-dimensional browsing interface.
The site was picked by the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
as the starting point for its RAMline music index. Funded by HEIF3 and the Centre for Distance Education
Centre for Distance Education
Centre for Distance Education may refer to:* Athabasca University* Centre for Distance Education, University of London...
the project sought to offer a way of consolidating existing resources, making them accessible to students, staff, and the general public.
The research team - including John Drinkwater
John Drinkwater
John Drinkwater was an English poet and dramatist.He was born in Leytonstone, London, and worked as an insurance clerk...
and Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell was an English woman who devoted her life to the salvation of Hansen's disease patients in Japan.-Early life and her determination:...
- then moved their research to a commercial environment working with development budget provided by Brussels-based Pensive SA. This quickly resulted in musicGPS, an application for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
. released 30 September 2009, which records the details of what the user listened to, including time and place, and allows navigation and filtering of the resultant timeline. All data recorded is uploadable to the musicDNA database.