A Computer Composing and Playing Jazz

Roland Piquepaille writes "The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has some unusual teaching programs. One PhD student, Øyvind Brandtsegg, is a graduate of the jazz program and this article describes how has developed a computer program and a musical instrument for improvisation. The PhD student is 36 years old and is at the same time a composer, a musician and computer programmer. His 'computer instrument' can take any recorded sound as input and split it into a number of very short sound particles that can last for between 1 and 10 milliseconds. 'These fragments may be infinitely reshuffled, making it possible to vary the music with no change in the fundamental theme.'" Brandtsegg improvisational software is called ImproSculpt; his site contains several selections from his musical output, including "some pieces made with the predecessor of ImproSculpt," called FollowMe.

Comments

Anyone read "The End of Eternity" by Asimov?

[GMonkeyLouie]

When Noys seduces Harlan, she puts on a device that generates a semi-random sequence using complimentary notes and chords, with the aim of producing never-repeating but beautiful music - this sounds extremely similar.

We're moving ever closer to the music of the future! Wooo.

Wily menfolk everywhere will soon use this software to enhance their seductive power.