TidalVortex Zero

In this paper we introduce ‘version zero’ of TidalVortex, an alternative implementation of the TidalCycles live coding system, using the Python programming language.  This is open-ended work, exploring what happens when we try to extract the 'essence' of a system like TidalCycles and translate it into another programming language, while taking advantage of the affordance of its new host.

First, we review the substantial prior art in porting TidalCycles, and in representing musical patterns in Python. We then compare equivalent patterns written in Haskell (TidalCycles) and Python (TidalVortex), and relate implementation details of how functional reactive paradigms have translated from the pure functional, strongly typed Haskell to the more multi-paradigm, dynamically typed Python. Finally, we conclude with reflections and generalisable outcomes.