Made In Opusmodus

The following demonstrates a simulation of reading a 2D matrix (with samples/motivs mapped to it) using various techniques. The resulting reading patterns are similar, yet generally not identical - creating a kind of formal grammar. In the interest of transparency, I’d like to mention that I didn’t write all of the code myself. The samples/motivs (linked to the indices and not shown in this post) are entirely composed by my own, and so are some of the reading techniques. For others, I worked with Claude to generate implementations in pure Lisp. From there, I experimented with them, refined them, and fixed issues along the way. sim.mov Claude generated a visualization…

I am currently looking into non-functional but still directed harmonic music. Frank Zappa might be a inspiration (tall order). A technique I learned is chromatic planing, which uses coupling of one or more chord structures to a top melodic line. For the classically trained musician the parallel motion might be a no go, but I personally like it a lot. Opusmodus is perfectly suited to do this planing technique with gen-chord3. Very brief snippet, which was arranged mostly with music generated from code below. Planing.mp3 (setf melody-interval (interval-series '(1 5 7 5 1) '(1 2 7))) (setf melody-pitch (ambitus '(c4 g5) (interval-map 'd4 melody…

A test of my (work in progress) Csound/Opusmodus framework. Luminous_Fractures_v2.wav LuminousFracture2.pdf Luminous_Fractures_v2.csd LuminousFractures2.opmo

A piece from 2023 added to my new website: Stéphane Boussuge - ComposerStéphane Boussuge - ComposerOfficial website of Stéphane Boussuge, contemporary music composer. Explore his biography, works, and listen to his compositions.

;; BY CLAUDE: ;; Aliquot-Sequenz (Summe echter Teiler, Zyklus = befreundete Zahlen) (defun aliquot-seq (n &optional acc) "Sequenz n → Σ(echte Teiler) bis 0, Fixpunkt oder Zyklus." (let ((acc (or acc (list n)))) (let ((next (reduce #'+ (proper-divisors n) :initial-value 0))) (cond ((zerop next) (append acc (list 0))) ; endet bei 0 ((member next acc) (append acc (list next))) ; Zyklus (t (aliquot-seq next (append acc (list next)))))))) (list-plot (aliquot-seq (random 100)) :join-points t) (list-plot (loop repeat 10 collect (aliquot-seq (random 100))) :join-points t)

;; BY CLAUDE: (defun happy-step (n) (reduce #'+ (mapcar (lambda (d) (* d d)) (digits n)))) (defun (n &optional acc) "Sequenz bis Fixpunkt 1 oder bis Zyklus erkannt." (let ((acc (or acc (list n)))) (let ((next (happy-step n))) (if (member next acc) (append acc (list next)) ; Zyklus: letztes Element zeigt wohin (happy-seq next (append acc (list next))))))) (happy-seq (rnd-pick (happy-numbers 100))) (list-plot (loop repeat 10 collect (flatten (happy-seq (rnd-pick (happy-numbers 300))))) :join-points t)

all columns, rows, diagonals in a list... ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; (defun all-magic-square-lines (n) (let ((alist (magic-square n))) (append alist (loop for x from 0 to (1- (length (car alist))) collect (loop for i in alist collect (nth x i))) (list (loop for i in alist with cnt = 0 collect (nth cnt i) do (incf cnt))) (list (loop for i in alist with cnt = (1- (length (car alist))) collect (nth cnt i) do…

Hi, Here’s a short video demonstrating some experimentation with transmitting Opusmodus scores (using MusicXml2ly) to a pre-defined template in Lilypond. To accomplish this, I’ve created a String trio template in Lilypond and implemented a highly intricate function with the invaluable assistance of OpusmodusGPT. Opusmodus exports the Opusmodus XML file to Lilypond using MusicXml2ly, and it automatically extracts the content of this file and pastes it into the appropriate variables within the template. Subsequently, the file is saved on disk, and Lilypond is invoked to compile it. Finally, the resulting PDF is displayed using the preview function. OpusmodusLilypondPower…

Just sketching with Opusmodus and Max/MSP: Bars arranged as a matrix are read via a vector envelope and then filtered again by a cellular automaton (the bar is either played or replaced by a rest). In Max/MSP it is recorded and the sample/seq is played back in different ways. The MIDI output of Opusmodus additionally controls higher-level comb filters on it. Sounddesign with simple and cheap sounds by impulse response software (room/media simulations). sketch.MOV sketch2.MOV

New piece Phase Space for Ensemble. Phase Space 247 conceives music as a dynamic system evolving within a space of possibilities. Inspired by the notion of phase space in physics and mathematics, each musical parameter — pitch, rhythm, density, dynamics, instrumentation — is treated as a dimension of a multidimensional field, within which the sonic material traces its trajectories. The piece is driven by an algorithmic process shaped by global tendencies (attractors) and local variations. A shared underlying force field influences all voices, ensuring perceptual coherence, while each line retains expressive autonomy through fluctuations, silences, ornaments, and internal…

Here is a function (with subfunctions) that operates based on the principle of the Brownian bridge. You define the start and end, and with each generation, an extended embellishment emerges. The principle is simple and allows for the creation of ornaments. Attached are some examples — I’ve structured them this way to make the principle easier to understand. Here is a small graphical model showing four generations. The start and end points remain the same, while new random points are added in between with each generation. The Code & Examples (defun pick (a b &key (span 5)) (let ((rnd1 (car (rnd-number 1 (+ a span) (- a span)))) (rnd2 (car (rnd-numb…

Happy New Year 2026 to OM community. Followup on post: https://opusmodus.com/forums/topic/3989-om-lydian-chromatic-concept-of-tonal-organization-george-russell/ Enthous.mp3 "Enthous" is a small piece, which tries to use techniques of LCCOTO in 2 parts form each using alternations of 2 parent-scales. Opusmodus is very well equipped for LCCOTO 😀. Comments Function find-chord-for-parent-scale is implemented here: https://opusmodus.com/forums/topic/3998-take-3-lydian-chromatic-concept-of-tonal-organization-george-russell/ Function write-midi is implemented here: https://opusmodus.com/forums/topic/4024-command-to-include-in-def-score-or-at-the-end-of-code-to-automaticcaly…

Dear Friends at Opusmodus team, With great joy, I´d like to share with you an important international prize I received as composer in 28th november. It´s the IBERMÚSICAS prize for Symphonic Band 2025. It was very competitive and I´m honored to represent Brazil in this contest. I´m posting this here because Opusmodus became since 2017 a very important tool in my compositional process, although I do not use it from beginning to end, i.e., there are many things I do manually. Nevertheless, it plays a crucial role in my workflow and I´d like to thanks the team for this. All the best and happy 2026 ! Here are the selected compositions: https://seleccionados2025.ibermusicas…

Followup on post: https://opusmodus.com/forums/topic/3989-om-lydian-chromatic-concept-of-tonal-organization-george-russell/ Here's another a bit more involved attempt using LCCOTO for my naive take of a fusion piece. The chord track for 2 parts is given, melodies use the LCCOTO parent scale for chords. One can exchange by other more outgoing scales. Audio example are for normal, most ingoing lydian scale. Code for the function find-parent-scale-for-chord is this post 3 picked audio manifestations with different start seeds. Seed: 78641 e1.mp3 Seed: 34987 e2.mp3 Seed: 10461 e3.mp3 Here's the code. Appreciate any improvement suggestions. ;; -------------------------…

Followup on post: https://opusmodus.com/forums/topic/3989-om-lydian-chromatic-concept-of-tonal-organization-george-russell/ Here's another 16bars short attempt to play with different level of in- and outgoing melodies according to LCCOTO.. Code for the function find-chord-for-parent-scale is this post. Would be great to have a scale like lydian-chromatic (c1 g1 d2 a2 e3 b3 fs4 gs4 eb5 bb5 f6 cs7) properly built into OM (respecting the order of pitches, which is important for LCCOTO). Maybe with a reference to Russell as this seems to be a tradition in OM (Modes.opmo). The OM built-in scale chromatic-lydian with similar name seems to be 7-pitch scale (c4 cs4 e4 f4 fs4 a4…

Hi folks, Opusmodus is really amazing for music production. Here’s a short orchestral test I’ve made today, the rendering is Sibelius and NotePerformer. NewOrchestralAlgoTest1NP.mp3

Dear Opmo friends, I’m sharing a short SATB piece together with its score code and MP3 file. Hope you’ll find it inspiring and enjoyable! Best, Stéphane Score240-SATB.mp3 Score240_SATB.opmo Score240_raw_OMPrintScore.pdf

Hi folks, Here’s a work in progress for ensemble. Best S. Score214_V1_06-6603-3511.mp3

Hi folks, I’d like to share a brief experimental study for a String Quartet based on an FM spectrum. It is basically a test of VSL Solo Strings Studio’s microtonal capabilities with no real attempt to be musically developed or interesting. However, it also serves as a test for my workflow with Lilypond. Unfortunately, actually, even if I own Synchron Solo strings, I don't use them because the Sul Ponte and Sul Tasto are still not implemented in this new lib, so I continue to use the VSL Solo Strings studio version. But microtonality works very well ! Best Stéphane MicroStud-S237-858649.mp3 Micro Stud S237-858649.pdf

Hi Folks ! Sadly, Barry Vercoe, the creator of Csound, passed away one week ago. I've played a lot last week with Csound (I love Csound!) trying to build a cool workflow within Opusmodus for algo comp with Csound based on a premade instruments library I’ve started to build. This allows me to focus on music when composing in Opusmodus with Csound. Here are my first tests. Csound-Def-Csound-score-Experiments.mp4

A short electronic piece of music made with an Opusmodus-driven VCVRack patch. Be cautious of your monitors and ears! EtudeSurTexture1.wav

Work in Progress... Prélude aux Etoiles.mp3

This minimalist work, inspired by Satie and Feldman, was composed using Opusmodus using techniques borrowed from Lutoslawski and Yuasa. https://robert-scott-thompson.bandcamp.com/album/bells-do-not-ring-but-the-air-listens-anyway The score and parts are available from American Composers Edition, New York. American Composers AllianceBells Do Not Ring but the Air Listens AnywayComposer's Note: Bells Do Not Ring but the Air Listens Anyway is a meditative, atmospheric work for flute, cello, and harp trio that draws its primary inspiration from two seemingly disparate yet s... By the way, this project was also inspired through my studies of Stéphane Boussuge's various …

One more small (improved) function: a starting rhythm (pattern) gradually changes its values towards a constant pulse/value (endvalue). Other possible applications: An initial pitch sequence evolves into a steady, constant pitch. A start pattern for velocity gradually shifts towards a fixed velocity. (defun gen-acc/rit (alist endvalue) ;; startpattern + endvalue (loop while (not (equal alist (gen-repeat (length alist) endvalue))) collect (setf alist (loop for i in alist when (/= i endvalue) collect (if (> i endvalue) (- i 1) …