The recent development of computer technology has changed our society in many ways. The use of computers in music is one example. Computers have created new ways to perform, notate, and compose music. Their implementation in the composing of music is useful in many ways to composers. Computer composed music is referred to as algorithmic composition. There are five types. These are stochastic, chaotic, rule-based, grammar, and artificial intelligence. Notable milestones in the history of computer composed music include the Illiac Suite, the music of Xenakis, and Experiments in Musical Intelligence by David Cope. The possibilities of computers as a tool for inspiration, exploration of music, and testing of theoretical principles is far reaching. There is however one limitation to computer composed music. Although computers have the capability to compose music, they must always rely on human input. This input is usually in the form of programming code but can also include live musical performance. The concept of computer composed music is unpleasant for some people who have a deep appreciation of traditional music and see a machine composed work as not having a soul. Examples of computer composed music that rival that of humans such as the work of EMI is especially displeasing. The use of computers to compose raises philosophical questions about how deep art really is, how to aesthetically judge a computer-composed piece, and what this means for traditional views of human composed music.
Computer composed music relies on what is called an algorithm and music that is composed in this way is called algorithmic composition. An algorithm is a series of steps used to solve a problem and is a term that is present in information technology and medical fields as well. In music, an algorithm is a systematic way of generating material for a composition. An example of an algorithm would be to start with a random note then flip a coin and depending on whether it is heads or tails, go up or down one note, repeating this many times.
