Software That Composes Music by: Matt Watson

“Music, because of its specific and far- reaching metaphorical powers, can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable.” – Leonard Bernstein

Computer Music Computer music is a term used to describe the field ofstudy relating to the application of computer technology tothe composition of music. The field of computer music traces its origins to thedevelopment of recorded sound in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Due to the growth of personal computing and electronicrecording, the field of computer music could be used todescribe any music that has been created using computertechnology.

The Origins of Electronic Music It has been said that “…the technologies that are used to make electronic music are a realization of the human urge to originate, record, and manipulate sound.” – Andrew Hugill New electronic music began with the invention of electronic instruments. The earliest electronic instrument was the Singing Arc. Invented by William Duddell in 1899, it made sound by using carbon arc lamp (a precursor of the electric light bulb).

Varèse’s Poème Électronique In 1958, Edgar Varèse was commisioned by Philips to create a walk-though sonic experience for the World’s Fair. The display was erected within the Philips Pavilion and was essentially a large-scale sound installation using several hundred loudspeakers that played synthesized, recorded and processed sounds. This proved to be one of the earliest demonstrations of electronic music and helped bring the new musical movement to the public’s attention.

The First Computer to Play Music In 1949, Australian scientist Trevor Pearcey invented the CSIRAC, one of the earliest stored program computers. Geoff Hill programmed the CSIRAC to play popular music melodies.

The first computer to play its own generated music was the Ferranti Mark 1, the world’s first commercially available electronic computer. Most music generating software uses mathematical algorithms to create music and sound. In contrast to modern music generating software, early computer-music programs did not run in real time. Instead, programs would run for hours on end to produce only a few minutes of music!

Technological Advances With improved computing fortitude and audio manipulation capabilities, computers are now powerful enough to perform sophisticated audio synthesis using complex algorithms and programs. With improved computing fortitude and audio manipulation capabilities, computers are now powerful enough to perform sophisticated audio synthesis using complex algorithms and programs. The development of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in the early 1980’s allowed for computers to connect and communicate with electronic instruments. The development of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in the early 1980’s allowed for computers to connect and communicate with electronic instruments.

Computers and music software have reached a point where they can use algorithms to ‘listen’ to a piece of music, then create ‘improvised melodies on the existing music material. This is different from algorithm-derived computer programs as the computer does not synthesize music; rather elaborate on existing music.

Music Generating Software Software that can generate music and sound has become increasingly available to the public over the last decade. Software that can generate music and sound has become increasingly available to the public over the last decade. These programs have radically changed the way composers and performers interpret the computer – from a laborious to another instrument that can be used in real time. These programs have radically changed the way composers and performers interpret the computer – from a laborious to another instrument that can be used in real time.

Some Music Generating Software…

FlexiMusic Generator This is a simple program that generates sound using waves.

Sounder This program allows you to create sound files accompanied by graphic representations of the composition.

Reaktor by Native Instruments This program allows for sound synthesis as well as providing an in-depth music production interface.

Computer Compositions Illiac Suite - for string quartet, by Lejaren A. Hiller and Leonard Isaacson Übung, 3 Asko Pieces, Beitrag, by G.M. Koenig

“Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there” – Miles Davis

Sources Collins, Nick. The Cambridge Companion to Electronic Music. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, Manning, Peter. Electronic and Computer Music. Oxford University Press: New York,