jmon/algo

jmon/algo (jam on studio - algorithms) a JavaScript music composition toolkit for the JMON (JSON Music Object Notation) format.

Quick Start:

• Observable Guide - Get started with Observable Classic & Framework 2.0
• API Reference - Complete API documentation
• Interactive Examples - Live Observable notebooks

Features

Algorithmic Composition

• Music theory: Scales, progressions, harmony, rhythm
• Minimalism: Process-based composition techniques
• Generative algorithms: no deep learning, just you, your imagination and math: random walks, Fractals, cellular automata, genetic algorithms, Gaussian processes

JMON Format Conversion

• Tone: Core format validation and Tone.js integration
• ABC notation: Convert JMON to ABC notation
• MIDI: MIDI file conversion utilities
• Display: Score visualization and playback functions
• SuperCollider: JMON format to SuperCollider code

Analysis & Utilities

• Musical analysis tools (usefull for genetic algorithms)
• Format conversion utilities
• Mathematical utilities for music

Development

Building

deno task build    # Build ESM and UMD bundles

Jupyter Notebooks

1. Install Deno: https://deno.com/manual/getting_started/installation
2. Install JupyterLab: pipx install jupyterlab
3. Install Deno kernel: deno jupyter --install
4. Launch: jupyter-lab
5. Create a notebook with the Deno kernel

API Overview

Core Functions

| Function | JSR | npm | Description | |----------|-----|-----|-------------| | jm.theory.* | ✓ | ✓ | Scales, chords, progressions, intervals | | jm.generative.* | ✓ | ✓ | Melodies, walks, fractals, cellular automata | | jm.analysis.* | ✓ | ✓ | Pitch, rhythm, harmony analysis | | jm.converters.* | ✓ | ✓ | MIDI, ToneJS, WAV, SuperCollider, VexFlow | | jm.audio.* | ✓ | ✓ | DSP, synthesis, audio processing | | jm.score(comp, VF, opts) | ✓ | ✓ | Sheet music (requires VexFlow param) | | jm.play(comp, opts) | ✗ | ✓ | Audio playback (npm only) | | jm.render(comp, opts) | ✗ | ✓ | Full UI player (npm only) |

Parameter-Based Dependencies

jmon/algo has zero dependencies in the JSR package. Libraries are passed as parameters:

// VexFlow for notation (both JSR and npm)
const notation = jm.score(composition, vexflowInstance, options);

// Tone.js for audio (npm package only)
const player = jm.play(composition, {Tone: toneInstance});

This design allows you to:

• Use any version of VexFlow or Tone.js
• Load libraries from CDN in browsers
• Avoid dependency bloat in Deno/Node
• Pass mocked libraries for testing

License

GPL-3

Links

• GitHub Repository
• Issues