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From: ee163acp@sdcc13.UUCP (DARIN JOHNSON)
Newsgroups: net.books,net.ai
Subject: Re: Hofstadter on computer music
Message-ID: <239@sdcc13.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-May-85 11:29:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcc13.239
Posted: Fri May 10 11:29:29 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 13-May-85 03:26:21 EDT
References: <582@tpvax.fluke.UUCP> <195@u1100s.UUCP> <14174@watmath.UUCP> <5327@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
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Xref: watmath net.books:1807 net.ai:2741

In article <5327@ucla-cs.ARPA>, srt@ucla-cs.UUCP writes:
> In article <234@sdcc13.UUCP> ee163acp@sdcc13.UUCP (DARIN JOHNSON) writes:
> >
> >Ok, as a Computer Engineering major, with a minor in Music, I can safely
> >assume that some type of (perhaps enjoyable) music may one day be created
> >by computer.  However, I seriously doubt that any great piece of music
> >would emerge...
> >   <various discussion of music by computer>
> >                     ...In any event, I would predict that perhaps a
> >future assignment in some university music class would be to tell the
> >difference between a 'human' piece and a computer generated one.  I
> >would hope the entire class could get this one right.
> >
> 
> Not to get involved in a long discussion of AI and philosophy, but...
> 
> Your assumption is that the computer would generate music by the machine
> equivalent of a throw of dice.  I think most people would agree that this
> method is unlikely to produce great music.  However, suppose we built a
> machine with all the memories and music knowledge of Beethoven, and then
> let this machine loose to create music by the same techniques of inspiration
> and experimentation that human composers use.  It might be able to create
> a great piece of music AND tell you why:  

I didn't mean to imply that the program would be totally random, but
there would have to be a tiny bit somewhere, else the input would
completely determine the output.  (Unless there is a new concept around)

Darin Johnson