Presentation Description The "Musico-Linguistics" Meme: Recursion and American Academic Inquiry into Musical Meaning since Bernstein in Boston Presentation by Jordan Randall Smith Musician Jordan Smith is a conductor, percussionist, educator, composer, and writer from Dallas, TX currently residing in Baltimore, MD. Learn more at www.jordanrsmith.com See video version at This 10-minute presentation was originally given to the Musicology Colloquium for Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Candidates at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 12.19.2012.

1. The Musico-Linguistics Meme:
Recursion and American Academic Inquiry into
Musical Meaning since Bernstein in Boston
Presentation by Jordan Randall Smith
December 19, 2012

2. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
John is eager to please.
John is easy to please.
Keller (1978)

3. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
John is eager to please.
John is easy to please.
Keller (1978)

4. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
{ }
eager
John is to please.
easy
Keller (1978)

5. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
{ }
eager
John - is to - please.
easy
Keller (1978)

6. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
{ }
eager
John - is to - please.
easy
Keller (1978)

7. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
John - is - easy - to - please.
Keller (1978)

8. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
John is easy for Mary to please.
Keller (1978)

9. Deep Structure v. Surface Structure
It is easy (for Mary) to please John.
Keller (1978)

10. Recursion

11. Recursion
n! = n * (n - 1)!
4! = 4 * (4 - 1)!
= 4 * 3 * (3 - 1)!
= 4 * 3 * 2 * (2 - 1)!
= 4 * 3 * 2 * 1
= 24

12. Recursion
Figure 1. Sierpinski triangle. (fair use)

13. Recursion

14. Recursion

15. Recursion

16. Bernstein Excerpt

17. Recursion
[Handout]

18. Recursion
Figure 2. M.C. Escher, Drawing Hands, 1948 (fair use)

19. Thank
You