The jChing: a Java-Based Algorithmic Composition Tool

The chance-based compositional techniques utilized by composer John Cage in such works as “String Quartet in Four Parts” and “Music of Changes” made use of a compositional framework of gamuts and gamut squares that serves as the object-model for a compositional software application capable of transforming musical data cells using both chance-based and probabilitydriven functions. Written in Java, the jChing makes use of the MusicXML data format to output transformed musical data in a format compatible with a number of commonly used musical notation applications. This article outlines the functional model and technical specifications for the application and provides basic examples of the jChing workflow.