[eu-gene] Psst...Wanna Buy an Algorithm? (Working Title)

[alex]

On Sat, 2005-10-15 at 15:15 -0700, Andrei wrote:
> --- alex <alex at slab.org> wrote:
> > But in order to build a recording, the composer has to listen to the
> > same thing over and over again.  It would seem to me that in this
> > manner a good composer will naturally find repetitive structures that
> > can stand repeat listens.  It's often said that a good recording 
> > 'grows' on you, at first it sounds dull, but warms with repeated 
> > listens.
> 
> I don't quite get your point here. 
> 
> Only composers who find pleasant repetitive structures are "good"?

No sorry, I didn't mean that.  Nick said subtle, controlled variation is
useful to keep the listener engaged.  I was giving an example where a
composer makes a music recording good enough to stand repeat listens
without variation.

> > Also, there is a lot of music.  There isn't the need to have
> > compositions that dynamically play variations of themselves, when we
> > could listen to something new, once our ears tire of a particular
> > musical structure.
> Does it have to be an either/or thing?

No I don't think so - I'm arguing against a narrow definition of
generative music.

> A composition can't be "algorithmic" - in the "generative" sense - if
> it produces the EXACT same music with each "performance." 

How do you mean "in the generative sense"?  If an algorithm runs without
any external interaction, then it will produce the same output every
single time, unless the computer is broken.

> And if the piece were electronic/computer generated
> it would be even more antithetical to the idea of "generative" music,
> since even the element of human imperfection involved in a performance
> is absent from the equation.

Hm, I think we're going to have to resort to definitions here - what is
the idea of generative music in your opinion?

According to the definitions here it seems to be music that comes out of
a process created by a musician:

http://www.generative.net/read/definitions


alex