Sounds Unheard of: Evolutionary algorithms as creative tools for the contemporary composer
Palle Dahlstedt · 2004
Evolutionary algorithms are studied as tools for generating novel musical material in the form of musical scores and synthesized sounds. The choice of genetic representation defines a space of potential music. This space is explored using evolutionary algorithms, in search of useful musical material. In this way, the computer becomes a creative tool that is integrated into the artistic process. Several implementations of these ideas are presented, based on interactive evolution, genetic algorithms and artificial life models. A number of different representations of music and sound are discussed, with a focus on parameterized sound synthesis and the representation of scores as recursively described trees. The dynamic behavior of a class of sound synthesis engines, consisting of networks of modulating oscillators, is also investigated.Finally, a number of compositions that have been composed with the tools described in the thesis are presented.