Music and Technology: Algorithmic and Generative Music

Readings and Listening

SES #	TOPICS	READINGS	LISTENING
1	Foundations: Algorithmic and generative music systems		bablecast
2	Foundations: Musical parameters, mappings, and tools
3	Approaches: Distributions and stochastics	Ames, C. “A Catalog of Statistical Distributions: Techniques for Transforming Random, Determinate and Chaotic Sequences.” Leonardo Music Journal 2, no. 1 (1992): 55-72.
4	Foundations: Historical and categorical perspectives	Ames, C. “Automated Composition in Retrospect: 1956-1986.” Leonardo 20, no. 2 (1987): 169-185. Ariza, C. “Navigating the Landscape of Computer-Aided Algorithmic Composition Systems: A Definition, Seven Descriptors, and a Lexicon of Systems and Research.” In Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, San Francisco, CA: International Computer Music Association, 2005. 765-772. (PDF)
5	History: Serialism, loops, tiling, and phasing		Boulez, Pierre. Structures, Book I (1956-61). Alfons and Aloys Kontarsky, pianos. Boulez: Structures pour deux pianos. Wergo, 1993. Reich, Steve. Piano Phase (1967). Performed by Double Edge. Early Works. Elektra/Nonesuch, 1992. [Alternate version by Peter Aidu, via Internet Archive] Andriessen, Louis. Hout (1991). Bang on a Can All Stars. Giganitic Dancing Human Machine. Cantaloupe Music, 2001. Optional Babbitt, Milton. Composition for Four Instruments (1948). J. Wummer, S. Drucker, P. Marsh, and D. McCall. Babbitt/Bavicchi. CRI, 1960 (reissued by New World Records, 2010).
6	Workshop
7	History: Michele Gottfried Koenig	Koenig, G. M. “The Use of Computer Programs in Creating Music.” In Music and Technology (Proceedings of the Stockholm Meeting organized by UNESCO), 1971, pp. 93-115. (PDF) ———. “Aesthetic Integration of Computer-Composed Scores.” Computer Music Journal , no. 4 (1983): 27-32. (PDF)	Koenig, Gottfried Michael. Terminus X (1967) (Courtesy of Michael Gottfried Koenig. Used with permission.) Internet Archive (MP3 - 27MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 27MB) ———. Three Asko Pieces (1982). Performed by Ensemble 13. Computer Music Currents 2. Wergo, 1989.
8	Approaches: Permutations, generators, and chaos	Ames, C. “A Catalog of Sequence Generators: Accounting for Proximity, Pattern, Exclusion, Balance and/or Randomness.” Leonardo Music J_ournal_ 2, no. 1 (1991): 55-72. Voss and Clarke. “’1/f Noise’ in Music: Music from 1/f Noise.” J Acoust Soc Am 63, no. 1 (January 1978): 258-263.
9	History: Lejaren Hiller	Hiller, L., and L. Isaacson. “Musical Composition with a High-Speed Digital Computer.” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society 6_,_ no. 3 (1958): 154-160. Republished as Chapter 1 in Machine Models of Music. Edited by S. M. Schwanauer and D. A. Levitt. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993. ISBN: 9780262193191. [Preview in Google Books]	Hiller, Lejaren, and Leonard Isaacson, Quaret No. 4 (Illiac Suite) (1957). Released on these out-of-print LP recordings: Computer Music from the University of Illinois. LP, Helidor/DG H 25053 or MGM MG 848/849, 1967. Reissued on Lejaren Hiller: Computer Music Retrospective. LP, Wergo WER 60128, 1986.
10	Approaches: Probability and Markov chains	Ames, C. “The Markov Process as a Compositional Model: A Survey and Tutorial.” Leonardo 22, no. 2 (1989): 175-187 Ariza, C. “Beyond the Transition Matrix: A Language-Independent, String-Based Input Notation for Incomplete, Multiple-Order, Static Markov Transition Values.” 2006. (PDF)
11	Workshop
12	History: Iannis Xenakis	Xenakis, I. “Free Stochastic Music.” In Cybernetics, Art and Ideas. Edited by J. Reichardt. Greenwich, CT: New York Graphic Society, 1971, pp. 124-142. ISBN: 9780821204313. ———. “Xenakis on Xenakis.” Perspectives of New Music 25, no. 1-2 (1987): 16-63. Optional Ariza, C. “The Xenakis Sieve as Object: A New Model and a Complete Implementation.” Computer Music Journal 29, no. 2 (2005): 40-60.	Xenakis, Iannis. Achorripsis (1956-1957), Atrées (1960), ST/4 (1962), ST/10-1080262 (1956-1962). Instrumental Ensemble of Contemporary Music, Paris; Konstantin Simonovich, conductor. 20th Century Classics: Xenakis - Atrees / Nomos Alpha. EMI, 2010 (reissue). ———. ST/48. Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Arturo Tamayo, conductor. Iannis Xenakis Orchestral Works, vol. 5. Timpani Records, 2008.
13	Approaches: Non-standard synthesis	Berg, P. “Composing Sound Structures with Rules.” Contemporary Music Review 28, no. 1 (2009): 75-87. Hoffman, P. “A New GENDYN Program.” Computer Music Journal 24, no. 2 (2000): 31-38. Optional Serra, M. “Stochastic Composition and Stochastic Timbre: GENDY3 by Iannis Xenakis.” Perspectives of New Music 31, no. 1 (1993): 236-257.	Xenakis, Iannis. S.709 (1978). Xenakis: Electronic Music. Electronic Music Foundation, 1997.
14	Approaches: Granular and concatenative synthesis	Roads, C. “Introduction to Granular Synthesis.” Computer Music Journal 12, no. 2 (1988): 11-13. Sturm, B. “Adaptive Concatenative Sound Synthesis and Its Application to Micromontage Composition.” Computer Music Journal 30, no. 4 (2006): 46-66.	Vaggione, Horacio. 24 Variations, 2002 (Courtesy of Horacio Vaggione. Used with permission.) Internet Archive (MP3 - 23MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 23MB)
15	Approaches: Mapping, sonification, and data bending	Marino, G., M. Serra, and J. Raczinski. “The UPIC System: Origins and Innovations.” Perspectives of New Music 31, no. 1 (1993): 258-269. Ben-Tal, O., and J. Berger. “Creative Aspects of Sonification.” Leonardo Music Journal 37, no. 3 (2004): 229-232. (PDF)
16	Workshop
17	Approaches: Cellular automata	Miranda, E. R. “On the Music of Emergent Behavior: What Can Evolutionary Computation Bring to the Musician?” Leonardo 36, no. 1 (2003): 55-59. Ariza, C. “Automata Bending: Applications of Dynamic Mutation and Dynamic Rules in Modular One-Dimensional Cellular Automata.” Computer Music Journal 31, no. 1 (2007): 29-49.
18	Approaches: Genetic algorithms	Biles, J. A. “GenJam in Perspective: A Tentative Taxonomy for GA Music and Art Systems.” Leonardo 36, no. 1 (2003): 43-45. Magnus, C. “Evolving Electroacoustic Music: The Application of Genetic Algorithms to Timedomain Waveforms.” In Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, 2004. San Francisco, CA: International Computer Music Association. (PDF)
19	Approaches: Grammars and L-Systems	Mason, G., and M. Saffle. “L-Systems, Melodies and Musical Structure.” Leonardo Music Journal 4 (1994): 31-38.
20	History: Mechanical musical automata	Riskin, J. “The Defecating Duck, or, the Ambiguous Origins of Artificial Life.” Critical Inquiry 29, no. 4 (2003): 599-633. (Reprinted in Bill Brown, ed., Things. Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press, 2004.) (PDF- 4.1MB)
21	Workshop
22	Approaches: Agents and ecological models	Rowe, R. “Machine Listening and Composing with Cypher.” Computer Music Journal 16, no. 1 (1992): 43-63.	Rowe, Robert. “Shells.” Spasm: Works for Bass Clarinet. Michael Lowenstern, bass clarinet & electronics. New World Records 80468, 1996. Ariza, Christopher. to leave the best untold (2009). Internet Archive (MP3 - 28.4MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 28.4MB)
23	Approaches: Expert systems and style emulation	Ebcioglu, K. “An Expert System for Harmonizing Four-part Chorales.” Computer Music Journal 12, no. 3 (1988): 43-51. Cope, D. “Computer Modeling of Musical Intelligence in EMI.” Computer Music Journal 16, no. 2 (1992): 69-83.	Cope, David. From Classical Music Composed by Computer: Experiments in Musical Intelligence. Mary Jane Cope, piano. Centaur Records, 1997. (Courtesy of David Cope. Used with permission) Three Inventions, after Bach: No. 2 (1997) Internet Archive (MP3 - 3.5MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 3.5MB) Sonata, after Beethoven (1997) Internet Archive (MP3 - 4.5MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 4.5MB) Audio podcast about David Cope’s work. “Musical DNA.” Radiolab, Episode 202 (September 2007). WNYC/NPR.
24	Discussion: Aesthetics and evaluations	Ariza, C. “The Interrogator as Critic: The Turing Test and the Evaluation of Generative Music Systems.” Computer Music Journal 3, no. 2 (2009): 48-70. Optional Soldier, D. “Eine Kleine Naughtmusik: How Nefarious Nonartists Cleverly Imitate Music.” Leonardo Music Journal 12 (2002): 53-58. (PDF - 4.6MB)	Soldier, David and Richard Lair. “The Birth of Ganesha.” Elephonic Rhapsodies, 2004 (Courtesy of David Soldier. Used with permission) Internet Archive (MP3 - 7.8MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 7.8MB) Soldier, David. From The People’s Choice Music (2002) (Courtesy of David Soldier. Used with permission) “The Most Wanted Song” Internet Archive (MP3 - 5.9MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 5.9MB) “The Most Unwanted Song” Internet Archive (MP3 - 25.2MB) iTunes U (MP3 - 25.2MB)
25	Sonic system project presentations
26	Sonic system project presentations (cont.)