Is it Art, or just Science
Source: www.composerscientist.com
Topic: Algorithmic art
Sort Desciption: ... physics, sonification, algorithmic composition, computer music, Art and Science. ... Algorithmic Arts website. < http://algoart.com/> Feyerabend, P. 1996. ...
Content Inside: Is it Art, or just Science 1 Composing for an Ensemble of Atoms: The Metamorphosis of Scientific Experiment into Music * May 1, 2001 Bob L. Sturm 830 12 th Ave. Apt. 3 San Diego, CA 92101 USA sturm@ccrma.stanford.edu http://www.composerscientist.com A BSTRACT Quantum Mechanics states a particle can behave as either a particle or a wave. Since sound can be described as a superposition of frequencies, a metaphor between particle physics and sound synthesis is inspired. This metaphor is quantitatively developed here, suggested initially from a few similarities between the two disparate domains. Its practical use for music composition is discussed. Within these methods the distinctions between science and art are blurred, and scientific experiment becomes musical composition. The author discusses the process of using a simulated atom trap to compose a piece that doesnt require a physicist to appreciate. The methods do require the composer to be trained in physical principles. It is only a matter of time before a real system of particles could be usedthe particle accelerator will become an expressive musical instrument, and the particle physicist will become the composerscientist. Keywords: physics, sonification, algorithmic composition, computer music, Art and Science. 1.0: I NTRODUCTION In quantum mechanics (QM) particles and waves have identity crises because one can act as a particle or a wave; and when not a particle, its matter-wave has a frequency proportional to its kinetic and relativistic energy (hereafter referred to as the energy of the particle). Motivated by this, and some similarities between QM and timefrequency signal analysis (TFA), comes the idea that sound can be represented and synthesized by dynamic systems of particles. Vice versa, a sound might be materialized into its corresponding system of particles, and modifications made in that domain to synthesize variant sounds. Essentially what has been developed is a technique of sound composition ...
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