This brief provides a detailed introduction, discussion and
bibliographic review of the nature1-inspired optimization algorithm
called Harmony Search. It uses a large number of simulation results to
demonstrate the advantages of Harmony Search and its variants and also
their drawbacks. The authors show how weaknesses can be amended by
hybridization with other optimization methods. The Harmony Search Method
with Applications will be of value to researchers in computational
intelligence in demonstrating the state of the art of research on an
algorithm of current interest. It also helps researchers and
practitioners of electrical and computer engineering more generally in
acquainting themselves with this method of vector-based optimization.