Combining musical constraints with markov transition probabilities to improve the generation of creative musical structures

• Authors: Stephen Davismoon;John Eccles
• Venue: EvoCOMNET'10 Proceedings of the 2010 international conference on Applications of Evolutionary Computation - Volume Part II
• Year: 2010

This paper explores a fundamental dilemma regularly faced by any composer engaged in computer-aided composition: the generation of musically ‘meaningful' or ‘sensible' musical structures beyond those of a very localized nature. Initially an outline of the uses of Markov processes in music is given, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. There then follows a brief discussion describing some of the many constraints (cultural and otherwise) that have been and continue to be placed upon us all as we engage with music that emanates from relatively localized regions of the sonic continuum. Finally, through the combination of additional musical constraints with Markov transition probabilities within a stochastic optimization process, specific improvements in creating sensible musical structures are described.