Generative Art and Music

Spontaneous Thoughts on Automatic Art

Greg Jalbert,

When doing a search on the web for generative art, I found a lot of sites devoted to generative grammar in the field of linguistics. When one thinks about it, music and the visual arts are really languages that have their own grammars. We find that certain types of sequences and juxtapostions of components create effective communications. The message is whatever the artist creates or programmer allows in the system. There are certain types of systems that use a small set of rules with various permutations. Other systems use a loose set of rules with a large vocabulary. In some cases, there are many algorithms that have little or no permutation within, but the communication is made by the permutations of sequencing and juxtaposition of the algorithms into a grammar and a language.

In some cases, a formal scientific approach is taken, and the images reflect this in their pure mathematical rigor. The reliance on the formula may limit the range of expression. In other cases, a free-form artistic approach is taken, and the ad-hoc, organic nature and human hand is revealed., and the idiosyncrasies of the person come through. A close friend of mine would say that the scientific approach is the result of a fear of intimacy. Perhaps the free-form approach has its own fear of responsibility.

It's interesting that generative art is related to grammar, the vehicle of meaning. Are we looking for meaning in art without injecting it with ourselves? Have we lost the connection with our own meaning or purpose? Is generative art the reliance on computers and technology for the solutions to our problems, even in the search for beauty or meaning?

Related Information

• Tonecolor - visual music arts, an artist resource
• Brian Eno's Generative Music Album
• Another article on Brian Eno's Generative Music
• 20 Chance Lines by Francois Morellet
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago Curriculum, including a course on Generative Systems
• Computer Native Images by Mark Williams
• The Darwin Machine: Artificial Life and Art by Simon Penny
• Music, Mind, and Meaning by Marvin Minsky
• Digital Mantra by Steven R. Holtzman, Reviewed by Henry See
• International Society for Computational Modelling of Creative Processes
• The Post-Industrial Strategy - EXPOSING THE CATHEDRAL OF DEATH
• The kaleidoscope: shake, rattle and roll by Noel Gray
• Goals and Assumptions, an article about generative thinking to solve the world's problems.
• CalArts School of Music Course Catalog, with courses on generative music techniques
• The Studios of Gene Olson and Chris Wilson - Kinetic Art
• Spider's Invitation Gallery
• Algorithmic Generation of Temporal Forms: Hierarchical Organization of Stasis and Transition - Christopher Dobrian
• Software Tools for Artists: Software for Algorithmic Music, DNA Music, and Algorithmic Art Algorithmic Arts Algorithmic Composition - Tobias F. Kunze

There are a number of works in generative music, including many software programs.

Generative or Algorithmic Software for Music

• Max - Opcode Systems, Inc.
• M - by David Zicarelli, et al., Originally published by Intelligent Music, New York. Then published by Dr. T's Software.
• Jam Factory - Originally published by Intelligent Music, New York. Then published by Dr. T's Software.
• Oval Tune - Originally published by Intelligent Music, New York. Then published by Dr. T's Software.
• HMSL Hierarchical Music Specification Language - Frog Peak Software
• Super Collider - a real-time digital signal processing and music composition language for PowerMacintosh computers

Other materials on generative and algorithmic music can be found in Computer Music Journal.

Generative or Algorithmic Software for Visual Arts

• Bliss Paint - Imaja
• Kai's Power Tools - Metatools
• Premiere and associated plug-ins - Adobe Systems, Inc.
• AfterEffects and associated plug-ins - Adobe Systems, Inc.
• Paint Alchemy - Xaos
• Super Collider - a real-time digital signal processing and music composition language for PowerMacintosh computers

July 30, 1996