gears

Rick Taube
Assoc. Prof. Music
taube@uiuc.edu

Algorithmic
Design of
Music

Music 404A
MWF 10-11
CAMIL I, SOM

“Invention comes to the prepared mind.”
— Stanford Ovshinsky

An exploration of algorithmic design applied to the art of music composition. Through hands-on instruction students learn how to express compositional ideas as well-formed statements that lead from an initial set of conditions to a resulting musical score. We experiment with algorithms using variety of different score formats, including MusicXML/Sibelius, MIDI, audio file, and interactive control over real-time musical processes. Topics covered in the course include:

No prior experience with computer composition is assumed. Grading is based on class participation, weekly homework assignments and a large composition project. Recommended textbook: Taube, H. Notes from the Metalevel: An Introduction to Algorithmic Music Composition. Routledge. 2004:338, available at http://www.routledge-ny.com

Homework is generally due one week after the assignment. Please create a 404A subdirectory under your ~/Sites directory. You will place completed assignments in this folder and I will access the materials via the web.

The final project for the course will be an algorithmic composition designed for the new midi-controlled Carillon on the south side of campus (or the Disklavier if we do not get permission).

Class Schedule

Week Day Class Home
1
Mon 8/22 Class Environment, Hello World! Read: Course Introduction
Wed Introduction to Common Music 3 and Grace (overheads: cm3.pdf) Do: print.sal, send.sal
Fri Symbolic Expressions: expr.sal Homework #1
2
Mon 8/29 Working with Lists: lists.sal
Wed Function calls: funcall.sal, Top 10 Functions
Fri Composing with functions: Stroke 'n Spray Etude #1
3
Mon 9/5 Labor Day
Wed Definitions: Variables and variable assignment define.sal
Fri Definitions: Functions define.sal
4
Mon 9/12 Definitions: Functions define.sal
Wed Iteration: loop.sal
Fri Etude #1 Presentations
5
Mon 9/19 Defining Functions: List and Randomness Toolkit (first half with in class implementation)
Wed Iteration: loop.sal
In class iteration exercises: class.sal
Fri In class iteration exercises: class.sal Homework: Use iteration to create material for use with stroke and spray
List and Randomness Toolkit
6
Mon 9/26 Musical processes: processes.sal
Wed Process examples : processes.sal, ghosts.sal, ghosts.mainstage
Fri Process examples: gestures.sal, gestures.mainstage
Etude #1 Presentations (second half)
7
Mon 10/3 Mapping: mapping.sal Etude #2
Wed Interpolation : interpolation.sal
Fri Plotting : plot.sal , bach.mid
8
Mon 10/10 Interpolation and Processes
Wed Interpolation and Randomness
Fri Interpolation and Randomness
9
Mon 10/17 Interpolation
Wed Interpolation
Fri etudes and twelve-tone projects
10
Mon 10/24 Introduction to Musical Pattern Description: patterns1.sal
Wed More Advanced Pattern Description patterns2.sal
Fri
11
Mon 10/31 Markov selection: markov0.sal, markov1.sal
Wed markov2.sal
Fri 12 tone presentations Pattern example (due 11/13)
12
Mon 11/7 Projects
Wed 2nd order Markov example foster.sal repeater pattern repeater.sal
Fri More pattern examples.
13
Mon 11/14 Disklavier I (Intro) dkdemo.sal Real-Time Performance Interaction with a Computer Controlled Acoustic Piano (CMJ: Risset, Van Duyne) ,
Wed Disklaiver II (repeated notes, key locking) lock.scm , dk.scm
Fri Working with just tuning and the harmonic series. just.sal
14
Mon 11/21 Gobble Gobble
15
Mon 11/28 Jazz improvisor: jazz.sal Change Ringing: cring.sal
Wed Fractals and Chaos: Sierpinski's triangle (sierpinski.sal )
Feigenbaum and Henon (chaos.sal )
Fri TBA

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Last modified: Wed Dec 7 10:15:03 CST 2011

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