Schmolenzky, Pascal
Thesis topic: "Extending Musicological Analysis with Coarse-Scale Computational Perspectives."
Contact details at the University of Würzburg:
Chair of Computer Science (Computational Humanities)
Campus Hubland Nord
Emil-Hilb-Weg 23
97074 Würzburg
Primary supervisor: Prof. Dr Christof Weiß
Co-supervisors:
Prof. Dr Meinard Müller (FAU Erlangen)
Class at the Graduate School: “Digital Humanities”
PhD programme at the Graduate School from the winter semester 2026/27.
Abstract:
This dissertation explores how computer-assisted methods can support the analysis of classical music across different scales and analytical dimensions. We develop a flexible framework that combines computational analysis, structured annotations, visualisation and musicological interpretation. A central focus is the ability to switch between coarse-scale perspectives and expert-based close readings: broader patterns can guide the analysis of individual passages, whilst local observations can, in turn, refine interpretations of larger structures. The project thus examines how computational methods can complement and be integrated into traditional analytical approaches, fostering an iterative dialogue between quantitative observation and hermeneutic interpretation.
