The Voynich Ninja

a small update: I started working on my music composition today!

I have some ideas for converting Voynich MS text to music, which I will explore in the next weeks.
This would lead to an audio or video file that can be played on Voynich MS day (and after).

I will post a first update before the end of May, and a confirmation (or otherwise) before the end of June.

(11-05-2024, 07:00 PM)ReneZ Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I will post a first update before the end of May

I've been making good progress on this, so I can already provide the "first update before the end of May" now.

There are countless ways in which one can convert the Voynich MS text to music.
If one isn't very careful, the result is likely to be a chaotic concatenation of dissonances.

My idea was to combine Voynich theory and some elementary music theory in order to avoid that, and instead come up with something that one can listen to without getting a headache.

I now have the necessary tools in place:

1) A script to pre-process the Voynich text, doing some minor regularisations, and some more significant ones.
These will be described in an accompanying document, if this activity is going ahead

2) A tool to convert this text into notes. Basically another text file.

3) Another (more generic) tool to convert this text file with notes into a Midi file

This is combined with the Ubuntu sequencer software 'Rosegarden' and an oldish but good General Midi expander.
I am using the sequencer only to play the Midi files. I was prepared to do some manual note entry, but that turns out not to be necessary.

A first rendition of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. has me quite pleased, even though I haven't implemented the planned chord progression logic yet.
The melody is a bit erratic, but that was to be expected. It's also way too long to play in its entirety.

Part of the plan is that the text of the various sections in the MS result in recognisably different music.

Next I need to implement the missing logic, then do some more checks, and spend some time tuning it all (literally).

Also the text-to-music logic will be described in the accompanying document, if this is going ahead.
I am quite optimisitic about that.

The final update will come before the end of June, with the GO/NOGO decision for Voynich MS day, and the decision in which audio format it will be presented. For the moment I am thinking PPT video.

I think even if it doesn't work out in the way you intended, it would be interesting to present this on Voynich day.

I have been doing a lot of digging and since Lissu's and Rene's music projects are more likely to be pre-recorded instead of live, it might be best if I create a VM Day thread with curated music selection links that other members can then add to anytime up to and even on VM Day. It would be nice to include Lissu's and Rene's new music in the curated selections and I am already compiling a list that so far includes some previous selections:

Stephen Gorbos, Composer
Performed by Roomful of Teeth
Such sphinxes as these obey no one but their master
2013

Roel Funcken, Composer
Performed by Legiac
The Voynich Manuscript
2016

Hannah Lash, Composer
Performed by New Haven Symphony Orchestra
Voynich Symphony
2017

Audrius Plioplys on YouTube
Grace S. Allan of Johannesburg, South Africa, Composer
Various performances
Gregorian Chants from the Voynich Manuscript
2023

It would be great if I could get some help reaching out to some of these composers and performers to see if they would be interested in participating in VM Day, whether live performances or Q&A or new VM music recordings/videos. Certainly, we could help promote them as an added incentive for their participation. If anyone is interested in helping me do that, private message me. I'm still curating the list and hope to add several more to it soon.

Similarly, I am working on curating a list of VM art for the Art Show thread. In addition to Cary Rappaport and Lissu, so far I have the following:
Tara Tieso
Magdalena Feikusová
Teté Montero
Jutta Rika Bressem
Lawre Stone
MJ Millington
Carolyn Hasenfratz Design

Cipher Mysteries also has some blog articles on art that I am looking into and Fine Art America has a whole category on VM art. It would be great if I could get some of these to participate and not just post links for their VM works. But I will likely need help with this too. Again, private message me if you would like to help with this.

And finally, Koen has been doing some new Voynich Talk videos that would be great to incorporate as pre-recorded VM Day content but it would be great if we can also have live guest talks and live interviews, as noted in the activities poll. I have started work on a list of potential experts and guest speakers for these and I can run it by everyone in this thread or start a member poll once I feel the list is complete. And in addition to that I really would love for the VM Bloggers to participate with live (or pre-recorded) year-in-reviews.

Koen: Can we still use your Zoom account for the live VM Day events? If so, I need to get with you and the research presenters soon on scheduling their webinar details. If this works for you, I will reach out to each individually via private message, copying you (and perhaps also Rene and Andrew as they have helping review the submissions).

I have quoted/updated my previous planning update below. And I am way behind but still with a relatively comfortable margin for delays...probably. There has been no response yet to the New Member Welcome RSVP thread so that may have to be removed from the program. I plan to do a reminder post before the deadline. I will create the Bulletin Board thread as soon as possible but if we're going to include Create Your Own VM Folio, VM Day Recipes, Voynich Fools Day, and Your Most Absurd VM Theory in the program, I have to get those submission threads posted this month. So much to do, so little time...

(08-04-2024, 06:34 AM)merrimacga Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Updated Activities (based on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. results):

• State of the Voynich - Koen
  
• Individual VM Research Paper Presentations (#1 selection in activities poll with 9 votes)
  
• Individual guest talks (VM topics and related sciences) (#2 selection in activities poll with 6 votes)
  
• Live video interviews and audience Q&A with experts (#3 selection in activities poll with 5 votes)
  
• VM-Themed Live Music (#4 selection in activities poll with 3 votes)
  
• New member welcome (tied for #5 in activities poll with 2 votes)
  
• VM Art Show (tied for #5 in activities poll with 2 votes)
  
• Create your own VM folio (tied for #6 in activities poll with 1 vote)
  
• VM Day Recipes (tied for #6 in activities poll with 1 vote)
  
• Year in Review: VM Blogging
  
• Bulletin Board for local VM Day events and meetups
  
• Voynich Fools Day
  
• Just for fun: Your most absurd VM theory
  

Updated Schedule:

• Completed
  • activities poll
    
  • research presentation submissions (1 new one after the extension)
    
  • started new member welcome thread for RSVPs
    
• May 2024:
  • work with Koen and confirmed research presenters to schedule and confirm webinar details
    
  • start VM Art Show thread (call for artwork posting submissions)
    
  • create threads for expert interviews and guest talk suggestions
    
  • start confirmation of participants for expert interviews and guest talks
    
  • create thread for local activities bulletin board
    
  • create thread for VM folio submissions
    
  • create thread for VM recipe submissions
    
  • start thread to confirm bloggers for blog year-in-reviews
    
• June 2024:
  • start work on program
    
• July 2024:
  • Koen's State of the Voynich poll
    
  • 21 July: all interviewers, moderators, experts, other guests, musicians and bloggers finalized
    
  • 21 July: artists' works submissions due for the Art Show poll
    
  • 21 July: VM folio submissions due
    
  • 21 July: all live event webinar details due so they can be included in the program
    
  • 28 July: start Art Show entry poll
    
  • 28 July: start VM folio poll
    
  • 28 July: VM recipe submissions deadline
    
  • 28 July: new member RSVPs deadline for the new member welcome
    
  • 28 July: program finalized and published to site calendar and discussion VM Day 2024 main thread (separate of this one)
    
• August 2024:
  • 3 August: poll ends for Art Show entries
    
  • 3 August: poll ends for VM folios
    
  • 3 August: deadline for Art Show entries not already submitted for the poll
    
  • 3 August: deadline for local events posted to bulletin board thread
    
  • 3 August: create Voynich Fools Day submission thread
    
  • 3 August: create Absurd VM theory submission thread
    
  • 4 August: VM Day and all related activities and scheduled events
    
  • 5 August - 11 August: post VM Day polls active (Voynich Fools, Absurd VM theory, VM recipes)
    
  • 12 August: post VM Day poll results announced
    

Yeah I got a paid zoom account now (better for recording talks) so I can host the zoom call for the whole thing. I can also record it, edit and post it to YouTube afterwards.

Voynich day will be during my two-week family trip to the mountains in Austria, but that is fine: my feet will certainly appreciate the day off from hiking. I will just take my laptop with me and scout for a place with decent wifi. So well, basically you can rely on me to make the zoom side of things work, and to make everything available afterwards.

I will be doing a presentation about some new research and another one on the state of the voynich poll. That will probably be enough content from me. I will publish any new Voyinch Talk video at a separate date.

(17-05-2024, 12:33 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Yeah I got a paid zoom account now (better for recording talks) so I can host the zoom call for the whole thing. I can also record it, edit and post it to YouTube afterwards.

Excellent news! I was looking into all the possible options just in case and there is a lot that just isn't available in free accounts. Perhaps after VM Day, it will be worth considering getting a paid account for the Voynich Ninja Forum Team. I imagine it would be useful not only for future VM Day use but for other periodic Voynich Ninja events that may come up as well (perhaps even your Voynich Talks). We could probably set up something so that members could donate to fund it each year. Just a thought for later.

(17-05-2024, 12:33 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Voynich day will be during my two-week family trip to the mountains in Austria, but that is fine: my feet will certainly appreciate the day off from hiking. I will just take my laptop with me and scout for a place with decent wifi. So well, basically you can rely on me to make the zoom side of things work, and to make everything available afterwards.

I hope you have a wonderful time with your family in Austria. Sore feet aside, it sounds like a great outing. And if VM Day can provide you a welcome respite, we are certainly very grateful for all your help. Just don't overdo it. Anything any of us can do to assist so you can focus on family, let us know.

(17-05-2024, 12:33 PM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.I will be doing a presentation about some new research and another one on the state of the voynich poll. That will probably be enough content from me. I will publish any new Voyinch Talk video at a separate date.

More than enough, I'd say, and it's all very appreciated. You've been really busy lately. I haven't had a chance to really say but I love the new Voynich Talk videos and I look forward to more of them when you are able to work on them. 

Between new members doing new research and how active the site has been lately, I think it's all really exciting (and just a little exhausting too). Hopefully this momentum that has been building will continue on an ongoing basis through VM Day and beyond. To say it's a real labor of love for so many seems a bit of an understatement. I can never say this too much or enough to Koen, Rene, Andrew, Lissu, Cary and everyone else participating in VM Day:

THANK YOU! 

This is going to be a massive event and I can't wait! 
ReneZ's music project sounds super interesting too.

Thank you, Merri, you are really putting a lot of time and effort into making this happen. My contributions are minor in comparison. Don't worry about my vacation - VM day will be a very welcome change of pace. 

One thing I wonder about is the timing: how long will it last ideally? Do we intend to make it a program people can comfortably watch entirely? Which hours of the day are the best to suit both Europe and America?

I'm prepared to stay up all night to see the entire program.. x)

But yes, a set schedule would be nice so that people can plan their day and take lunch/dinner breaks and comment/ask questions in between of presentations.