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Convention Paper

Musical Composition with a High Speed Digital Computer

Authors: Hiller, Jr., L. A.; Isaacson, L. M.

AES Convention 9 · Paper 29 · October 1957

Abstract

A technique has been developed for writing music by means of automatic high speed digital computers such as the Illiac, located at the University of Illinois. Random integers, considered the equivalent of musical notes, are first generated and then screened by mathematical operations which express the rules of composition. The control over the musical output is limited solely by the input instructions and factors not specifically accounted for are left entirely to chance. Studies of the problems of strict counterpoint, of certain modern compositional procedures such as dissonant chromatic writing and tone-row generation and of writing music by more abstract procedures based upon certain techniques of probability theory have been carried out. The results of these experiments ahve been collected into a four-movement transcription for string quartet entitled the -Illiac Suite.-

Details

Published in
AES Convention 9
AES Convention
9
Paper number
29
Publication date
October 6, 1957
Affiliation
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (See document for exact affiliation information.)
Type
Convention Paper