Quantum Memory and Mathematical Gestures: Two Perspectives on Verdi and Wagner

Concepts and methods from theoretical physics and abstract mathematics can inspire new techniques to analyze the structure of musical compositions, seen as the unfolding of phenomena over time. Here, we consider an adaptation to music of a criterion to measure memory in quantum states (degree of non-Markovianity) and elements from the mathematical theory of musical gestures. We analyze salient features of two opera pieces, from Verdi’s La forza del destino and Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, commenting the obtained results and the limits of these techniques.