A musical 'Turing Test'

In Douglas Hofstader's "Metamagical Themas" he shows a page of algorithmic
"Mondrians" put up against a genuine Mondrian.

I propose we do that with some music examples.

Someone, all of us, or a few of us, can prepare say, 4 examples: 3
algorithmically prepared, and 1 which was composed with just gray matter and
pencil. Then post MIDI files of the results, and do a poll.

The rules will be: try to pick a damn good algorithm(s) and try to write a
damn good manual example.

Sound like fun?

Maybe we could start with say: 2 bars in 4/4 of a funk bass-line.

Any takers?

Best,
--
Aaron Krister Johnson
http://www.dividebypi.com
http://www.akjmusic.com

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Aaron K. Johnson" <akjmicro@c...>
wrote:
>
> In Douglas Hofstader's "Metamagical Themas" he shows a page of
algorithmic
> "Mondrians" put up against a genuine Mondrian.
>
> I propose we do that with some music examples.
>
> Someone, all of us, or a few of us, can prepare say, 4 examples: 3
> algorithmically prepared, and 1 which was composed with just gray
matter and
> pencil. Then post MIDI files of the results, and do a poll.
>
> The rules will be: try to pick a damn good algorithm(s) and try to
write a
> damn good manual example.
>
> Sound like fun?

I'm OK with the manual example, but where am I going to pick a good
algorithm from?

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Aaron K. Johnson" <akjmicro@c...>
wrote:

> Someone, all of us, or a few of us, can prepare say, 4 examples: 3
> algorithmically prepared, and 1 which was composed with just gray
matter and
> pencil. Then post MIDI files of the results, and do a poll.

Cope feeds in a lot of music at one end, which is how he gets it to
come out sounding like music at the other end. Is this cheating?

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Gene Ward Smith" <gwsmith@s...> wrote:
> --- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Aaron K. Johnson" <akjmicro@c...>
> wrote:
>
> > Someone, all of us, or a few of us, can prepare say, 4 examples: 3
> > algorithmically prepared, and 1 which was composed with just gray
> matter and
> > pencil. Then post MIDI files of the results, and do a poll.
>
> Cope feeds in a lot of music at one end, which is how he gets it to
> come out sounding like music at the other end. Is this cheating?

Yes, it is.

But then again, we don't tend to write music in a vaccuum either, so
I'm not sure where to draw the line.

-A.

> Cope feeds in a lot of music at one end, which is how he
> gets it to come out sounding like music at the other end.
> Is this cheating?

Composers listen to a lot of music. Is that cheating?

-Carl

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Carl Lumma" <clumma@y...> wrote:
> > Cope feeds in a lot of music at one end, which is how he
> > gets it to come out sounding like music at the other end.
> > Is this cheating?
>
> Composers listen to a lot of music. Is that cheating?

We agree here Carl: culture doesn't happen in a vaccuum.

My doubt still stands that a subjective computer will exist within my
lifetime that could create and partake in our, or, it's own 'culture'.

-A.

In truth of fact, they normally don't like others music which is why they
write music in the first place.
Maybe i should just say they have a problem with music as it is done by
others!

Carl Lumma wrote:

>
>
> Composers listen to a lot of music. Is that cheating?
>
> -Carl
>
>

-- -Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
http://www.anaphoria.com
The Wandering Medicine Show
KXLU 88.9 FM WED 8-9PM PST

On Friday 09 July 2004 11:20 pm, Kraig Grady wrote:
> In truth of fact, they normally don't like others music which is why they
> write music in the first place.
> Maybe i should just say they have a problem with music as it is done by
> others!

For me, it's a combination of awe and immense excitement by what others are
doing /have done, plus a desire to contribute my own voice/slant to the mix.

I just ignore things I don't like. but I find that there is really an awful
lot of good music out there. (and bad)

-A.

> Carl Lumma wrote:
> > Composers listen to a lot of music. Is that cheating?
> >
> > -Carl
>
> -- -Kraig Grady
> North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
> http://www.anaphoria.com
> The Wandering Medicine Show
> KXLU 88.9 FM WED 8-9PM PST
>
>
>
>
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--
Aaron Krister Johnson
http://www.dividebypi.com
http://www.akjmusic.com

> In truth of fact, they normally don't like others
> music which is why they write music in the first place.
> Maybe i should just say they have a problem with music
> as it is done by others!

Oh, I couldn't disagree more. To me, the snob thing
is totally anti-music. I usually associate it more
with mediocre performers. My favorite composers, the
ones I know of who've been asked, always express a
love for all kinds of music (all the ones they knew
about, anyway).

Bach wrote in Italian, French and English styles
after visiting those places, and spoke highly of
Couperin.

Handel spoke highly of Telemann.

Mozart loved Handel's Messiah.

Covers have always been a huge part of music.

Thelonious Monk said he liked all kinds of music, and
when the interviewer pressed, 'all?', Monk addressed
the camera, 'I don't think he's listening to me.'

Trey Anastasio talks about learning jingles, ditties.
His band plays everything, even covers whole albums
in concert. He says, 'the thing about the influences
question... there are so many!'

-Carl

I was just trying to be funny. And agree what you say here.
I think often ones tries to also fill in missing gaps, being a bit
compensatory to what is already here. Yes there is allot of great music
from everywhere too!

"Aaron K. Johnson" wrote:

> On Friday 09 July 2004 11:20 pm, Kraig Grady wrote:
> > In truth of fact, they normally don't like others music which is why they
> > write music in the first place.
> > Maybe i should just say they have a problem with music as it is done by
> > others!
>
> For me, it's a combination of awe and immense excitement by what others are
> doing /have done, plus a desire to contribute my own voice/slant to the mix.
>
> I just ignore things I don't like. but I find that there is really an awful
> lot of good music out there. (and bad)
>
>

-- -Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
http://www.anaphoria.com
The Wandering Medicine Show
KXLU 88.9 FM WED 8-9PM PST