Performing with patterns of time

Music is a time-based art form often characterised by patternings; manipulations of sequences overtime. Composers and performers may think in terms of patterns, although the structure of patternedsequences are often not made explicit in musical notation. This chapter explores how musical sequencescan be created and transformed in real-time performance through patterning functions. Topics relatedto the use of algorithms for pattern-making are discussed, and two systems are introduced - ixi langand TidalCycles, as high level and expressive mini-languages for musical pattern.