The variability of the heart rate reflects the regulatory status of the autonomous nervous system. For analytic purposes accessible to laypersons, the authors developed methods to transform heart rate variability into acoustical information, through either direct sound synthesis or the production of MIDI files (musical instrument digital interface) to trigger other devices. The authors describe the methods and some results and discuss applications for analytical and artistic purposes, such as music composition and biofeedback. The resulting “music” is complex and rhythmic and often has unexpected and interesting implied harmony.

©2023 ISAST
2023
ISAST

Supplementary data

The music of Heart Rate Variability: Sound examples

Track 1 (00:00-00:17): Sound sequence, by Method a1.

Track 2 (00:17-00:40): Sound sequence, by Method a2.

Track 3 (00:40-00:50): Example by Method b1.

Track 4 (00:50-01:00): Example from Fig. 2 (Method b2).

Track 5 (01:00-05:33): Tonal sequence by Method b3.

Track 6 (05:33-07:40): Traum Scherzo, by Guoda Gedvilaitė (piano). © Jan C. Schuller and Guoda Gedvilaitė

- mp3 file
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