Knowledge base
Modular Synthesis
Should Generative Music Use Melodies or Random Pitches?
Melody vs Random Pitch Development in Generative MusicOne of the most characteristic contrasts in generative music is the opposition between recognizable melody and random pitch movement.
Unlike traditional composition, both… read more
Can Generative Music Be Combined with Field Recordings?
Using Field Recordings and Pre-Recorded Audio in Generative MusicOne particularly effective way of creating contrast is combining generative processes with pre-recorded audio.
This idea has roots in musique concrète and… read more
How Do You Create Contrast in Generative Music?
Creating Contrast in Generative MusicContrast is one of the oldest compositional tools in music. Long before modular synthesis, composers created interest by placing opposing musical ideas next to one another.
Generative music is no… read more
Should a Composer Intervene During a Generative Performance?
Should Generative Music Be Left Alone? Intervention vs AutonomyEvery generative musician eventually faces a philosophical question:
Should the system run entirely on its own?
Or should the composer intervene?
The… read moreHow Can a Piece Jump Between Different Sonic Worlds Without Falling Apart?
Jump Structures and Sonic Worlds in Generative CompositionSudden transitions can create excitement.
They can also destroy coherence.
The challenge is maintaining continuity while allowing dramatic… read more
Can Generative Music Have Direction Without a Theme or Melody?
Direction Without Melody: Creating Movement in Generative MusicMany composers assume that musical direction requires melody.
Generative music demonstrates otherwise.
What Is Direction?Direction simply means that… read more
What Is Moment Form and How Can It Be Used in Modular Music?
Moment Form and Sonic Territories in Generative MusicOne fascinating approach to generative composition originates from Karlheinz Stockhausen's concept of Moment Form.
What Is Moment Form?In Moment Form, each section exists… read more
How Can a Generative Piece Be Structured?
Three Structural Models for Generative MusicGenerative compositions can develop in very different ways.
Three structural models appear frequently.
Model 1: Continuous DevelopmentThe music evolves gradually.
Parameters change… read more
What Is a Sonic Spline in Generative Composition?
Creating a Sonic Spline in Generative MusicBefore building a generative patch, a composer may ask a fundamental question:
What gives this piece its identity?
One useful answer is the concept of a sonic spline.
What Is a Sonic… read moreIs Generative Music Still Composed Music?
How to Compose Generative Music: The Myth of Complete RandomnessOne of the most common misunderstandings about generative music is the belief that it is not composed.
Some listeners imagine generative music as a process that runs entirely on… read more