This playlist (“Imitation Game 2021”) contains 20 short pieces that run between 20 and 30 seconds each. They were all composed by a computer algorithm. The differences between pieces are entirely the result of chance.  The instrumentation, tempo, key signature, rhythm, dynamics, melody and harmony for each piece are determined by 56 variables selected by a random number generator.  The internal coherence of each piece depends on the musical rules built into the algorithm.

The music is composed in a spreadsheet which implements the algorithm, and makes the random selections.  A proprietary program converts the spreadsheet output to a MIDI file, which is then converted to an MP3 sound file. 

Not every one of the random choices generates interesting music, so I have chosen the 20 best pieces from a set of 140 attempts.  While this 1 in 7 hit rate is not exactly high, my approach is still far more effective than monkeys pressing keys on a piano.

In keeping with the title of the playlist, I would challenge you to decide whether you could distinguish between this computer music and music composed by a human artist if you did not know what I’ve just told you about the algorithm.

Imitation Game 2021

You know when you go to an art gallery and encounter something baffling, you read the description on the label hoping it will reveal everything but it only says something like "abstract design number 3"?  Well, this blurb is equally enlightening.

Impulse (Outt7 24car1)

Composed by 1/f algorithm with quirky pentatonic scale.  Arranged by Hugo Smart

quarks

Main musical feature introduced accidentally.  Arranged by Hugo Smart.

irritation

Composed by v69 algorithm which employs prolongation reduction tree concept of Lerdahl and Jackendoff as well as 1/f choices for modules.  Arranged by Nigel Austen.

Balalaika squeeze

Composed by v69 random 1/f algorithm with auto-generated prolongation reduction tree.  Dedicated to a friend who wrote about the power of diffraction gratings to transform our understanding.

George the Command of Light

Synthetic drama created by random choices but guided by an algorithm with no overall sense of direction

mike smart

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