Preface to the Special Issue on Parallel Distributed Processing and Neural Networks

Abstract

This and the next issue of Computer Music Journal are largely given over to music research of a nature that is difficult to classify but which can be labeled variously as parallel distributed processing, connectionism, and neural networks. While there are distinctions that can be drawn among these subjects, it is what they share in common-their promise for music research-that warrants attention here. These disciplines model cognitive phenomena using massively interconnected communications among a number of simple processing elements, called artificial neural networks. This approach is well suited to many problems in music, as will be made clear below and in the following articles.