how would you evaluate music?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Mathematically? I might consider the component frequencies to determine a temperment by the base 2 logarithms of their ratios (12-note, 19-note, 31-note, ... scale?). If the temperment was such that core fractions like 3/2 and 4/3 existed in the majority, it would be safe to assume the music was relatively pleasant to listen to.

You've opened up a can of worms with such a broad baiting question in the math forum. I could go on and on as I have worked through this stuff in great detail in the past. But I will spare you that much detail.

Answer 3

A lot would depend on the purposes for evaluation. If it's on the basis of "Do I like this piece of music?" and "Would I like to listen to this piece of music again?" the emphasis would be mostly subjective, based largely on personal preference, along with a positive answer to the question, "Would a different arrangement of this piece of music make me more likely to want to listen to it again?"

If the purpose is on the basis "Is this a good piece of music in terms of criteria set by professional musicians and composers of music?" then the evaluation would be more specific and precise, including parameters such as melody, harmony, rhythm, chord progression, relationship of parts, dynamics, complexity, setting, genre, etc.

For example, the Beatles composed and performed a considerable variety of songs within the genre of "popular music". On a personal basis, I like a few of their original versions, I like quite a few of their songs when performed by other artists (but not by them), and I find a few of their songs musically pathetic. On a more "professional" basis, I would have to say that the quality of their compositions would fall in a range from fairly good to very mediocre, and the quality of their performances of their own music below average.

Answer 4

Mathematically, music is like a vibrating taught string. Pluck it in the middle and you get a fundamental tone where the string forms a single bow up than down, etc. Pluck it near one end and the string vibrates in multiple modes by dividing the string into two, three or more vibrating shorter equal lengths. Combine two strings and some of the vibrations may reinforce each other to produce harmony. Vibrate the wrong two strings and they interfere causing disharmony. A perfect 5th (C and G) produces maximum harmony while adjacent strings (C and C#) produce maximum disharmony, great for jazz!

Answer 5

I would simply ask myself if I liked it. Music doesn't have to be complex to be good, and there are a wide variety of musical tastes. I love Beethoven, and I like Aerosmith, but I'm a musician, so I like a lot of different styles of music.