(under construction)
Algorithmic composition and generative music – part 1
- This week we will explore probability, randomness, and sequencing.
- Next week we will look at audio reactive music
- In part 3 We will sonify data and gestures
That’s a lot of buzzwords.
How do people compose music?
- What is your composition tool/method of choice?
- Dramatic shape https://reactivemusic.net/?p=17176
- “How to Write a Song” By Henry Kane, 1962
- “This is Your Brain on Music” by Daniel Levitin
3 approaches
Chris Dobrian https://reactivemusic.net/?p=18914
- systematic
- intuitive
- arbitrary
Framing the process of composition
- Improvisation
- Intersecting continuums : random -> ordered, darkness -> light, empty -> full.
- Abstraction : Picasso http://www.slideshare.net/sotos1/pablo-picasso-bulls-111
- Thousands of approaches, including music theory.
Examples
The earliest examples of algorithmic composition applied mathematics to pitch, rhythym, harmony, and ensemble playing. Midi was an ideal medium for mathematical transformations. The examples we look at today are for the most part Midi based.
- Serial composition (12 tone) Arnold Schoenberg, Milton Babbitt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBa16sM2uaU
- aprpeggiators and autoharps
- M and Jam Factory by “Intelligent Music” (Chadabe and Zicarelli)
- Max and Pd by Miller Puckette
- Bloom by Brian Eno https://reactivemusic.net/?p=6240
- Korg Karma by Steven Kay (981-song)
- Probability Audio Drum Machine (app) by Iannis Ionnides https://reactivemusic.net/?p=18905
- Probability based drum sequencer by Takahiko Tsuchiya https://reactivemusic.net/?p=9233
- 1st order Markov chains by Fuji Kureta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzNCpuPhYFE
- Schwarzonator (Max for Live) by Henrik Schwarz
- infinity series by Per Nørgård https://reactivemusic.net/?p=9246, Infinity Row in RTC-Lib by Karlheinz Essl https://reactivemusic.net/?p=9222
- Muse (Leap Motion) by Paul Batchelor and Christopher Konopka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxpToWw53qA
Composing with Max
- clocks
- step sequencers (dude837 tutorial #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYc2a1ONTck) add randomness
- random and drunk
- table, itable, coll
- tutorial 17
- probability-thing: https://reactivemusic.net/?p=18909
- Takahiko (Lazy House, swing, % probability, density)
Markov chains
- Fuji Kureta: MarkovChain 2-fuji-kureta.maxpat (using Midi piano scores) debussy-cc4-format0.mid (The snow is dancing)
- Mchain external by Richard Dudas – https://reactivemusic.net/?p=18926
- text
- interactive midi notes
References
- Algocomp by Chris Dobrian https://reactivemusic.net/?p=18914
- Algorithmic composer (examples in Max and Pd) https://reactivemusic.net/?p=3738
- Max tutorial 17 (itable, table, histograms)
Assignment
Design a generative music machine.
I would encourage you to collaborate. To use the work of other artists as a starting point. And to build a composition/performance tool that you would actually use.
This assignment will be due on the last class day of the semester (May 5th).