Uploaded April 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Exploration of algorithmic composition.
I've written a small scheduler in the programming language python and I've created some midi event generators, and used both of those to drive the software synthesizer Yoshimi and LinuxSampler.
The midi events are generated based on a concept of "randomness within constraints". The things you hear are randomly generated, but not in an "anything goes" manner.
Constraints are imposed to limit the disorder of the randomness. Just like harmony and counterpoint limit randomness in traditional composition, the constraints here limit randomness in the experimental composition. One could say that different constraints generate families of alternative music theories.
"Randomness within constraints" is a deep idea whose time has come. It is popular both in science and art and indeed one of the very basic principles underlying evolution of life itself. It is, according to my current insights, probably also the barren wasteland where creativity and innovation hides. In this piece, I try to explore a number of different constraints.
Note: I do not consider traditional music theory inferior or unnecessary (quite on the contrary), but here I try to look a bit beyond its borders.
The visualization was made with Sonic Visualiser.
Interesting or boring? Be sure to let me know. Enjoy!
(Note: more information available on my blog a-touch-of-music.blogspot.be/2013/04/25-shades-of-random.html )
Exploration of algorithmic composition.
I've written a small scheduler in the programming language python and I've created some midi event generators, and used both of those to drive the software synthesizer Yoshimi and LinuxSampler.
The midi events are generated based on a concept of "randomness within constraints". The things you hear are randomly generated, but not in an "anything goes" manner.
Constraints are imposed to limit the disorder of the randomness. Just like harmony and counterpoint limit randomness in traditional composition, the constraints here limit randomness in the experimental composition. One could say that different constraints generate families of alternative music theories.
"Randomness within constraints" is a deep idea whose time has come. It is popular both in science and art and indeed one of the very basic principles underlying evolution of life itself. It is, according to my current insights, probably also the barren wasteland where creativity and innovation hides. In this piece, I try to explore a number of different constraints.
Note: I do not consider traditional music theory inferior or unnecessary (quite on the contrary), but here I try to look a bit beyond its borders.
The visualization was made with Sonic Visualiser.
Interesting or boring? Be sure to let me know. Enjoy!
(Note: more information available on my blog a-touch-of-music.blogspot.be/2013/04/25-shades-of-random.html )
![[Experimental] Better light than (n)ever](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GCGpyykkDFY/mqdefault.jpg "[Experimental] Better light than (n)ever
Second date with a light organ. Tried to do something different now: a kind of play without words. This is less experimental than the previous blind date with a light organ one. Have fun :)
Thumbnail based on a free image by jplenio on pixabay.com.")
