[microsound] Books on algorithmic/interactive/generative music

[Al Matthews]

I vote for Fred Lerdahl and Ray Jackendoff's "Generative Theory of Tonal Music"

http://www.amazon.com/Generative-Theory-Tonal-Music-ebook/dp/B002ZG7B90/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

for a number of the same reasons. Extrapolation is likewise required.

In addition a friend pointed me to Larry Polansky's e-monograph:

http://digitalmusics.dartmouth.edu/~larry/published_articles/tenney_monograph_soundings/index.html

which I would argue is a fabulously helpful resource.

-- 
Al Matthews
--
http://fatmilk.tv

On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 12:34 PM, David Powers <cyborgk at gmail.com> wrote:
> Here are my suggestions:
>
> Alfred Mann, "The Study of Fugue"
> http://www.amazon.com/Study-Fugue-Alfred-Mann/dp/0486254399
>
> William Kinderman, "Beethoven's Diabelli Variations (Studies in
> Musical Genesis and Structure)"
> http://www.amazon.com/Beethovens-Diabelli-Variations-Studies-Structure/dp/0195342364/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288195684&sr=1-1-spell
>
> George Perle, "The Operas of Alban Berg, Volume I: Wozzeck"
> http://www.amazon.com/Operas-Alban-Berg-Wozzeck/dp/0520066170/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288195717&sr=1-4
>
> George Perle, "Serial Composition and Atonality: An Introduction to
> the Music of Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern, Sixth edition, Revised"
> http://www.amazon.com/Serial-Composition-Atonality-Introduction-Schoenberg/dp/0520074300/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288195717&sr=1-1
>
> Okay, you may ask what these books have to do with algorithms, but I'd
> say that ALL music great music of the last 500 years tends to be
> algorithmic, but in fact structured by multiple rule sets, so that one
> can't just reduce the work to a single set of rules since there are
> inherent contradictions in the rule sets. I came to the conclusion
> that it's much more beneficial to study the work of great composers,
> as opposed to those silly "cookbooks"... After many years I have
> realized that the solutions to many of my compositional problems are
> already out there, in the works of composers such as Beethoven and
> Berg.
>
> If you want to broaden your perspective, also look into books about
> medieval and early renaissance compositional techniques, jazz theory
> (lydian chromatic concept perhaps?), or classical music of India. Any
> of these systems will give you tons of ideas you can extrapolate from
> and apply to composition with machines.
>
> Also, don't forget that it is often the breaking of a rule that is the
> most expressive moment in music... but that this expressive moment
> depends on the rules (algorithms) for its meaning.
>
> Finally, I personally think composers who are utilizing algorithms
> need to be especially careful in the way they treat time, and always
> remember that machine time is not the same as lived, embodied time...
>
> ~David
>
> On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 7:35 AM, Tobias Reber <tobiasreber at sunrise.ch> wrote:
>> Hi Sofus,
>>
>> There's a book called "Algorithmic Composition: Paradigms of Automated Music
>> Generation" by Gerhard Niehaus.
>>
>> I haven't read it myself as I couldn't find it in any library around here,
>> but I'd be very interested in hearing about it if anybody else has read it.
>> Tobias
>>
>> Am 27.10.2010 um 11:37 schrieb Sofus Forsberg:
>>
>> Hello
>>
>> I have in a long time been circling around this area, but never really
>> gotten very deep into it, and was wondering if anybody here could guide me
>> to some good books or other material on the subject.
>>
>> Thanks :D
>>
>>
>>
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>> ---
>> Tobias Reber
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>> Switzerland
>> mobile: ++41 (0)79 573 11 69
>> email: tobiasreber at sunrise.ch
>> www.tobiasreber.com
>>
>>
>>
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