Revision as of 00:05, 21 November 2007

Homework #6: "Generative Clouds"

In this assignment, you are to create a generative musical system in ChucK, defining its parameters and creating a piece of music using the system (either automatically, or via real-time high-level input).

Tools at your disposal

• ChucK
• Audacity/Ardour (for intermediate + final recording/assembly)
• optional: keyboard, mouse, joystick, and/or other sensors as input device

Specification

What to do:

• create one or more ChucK programs that generates music "automatically" (i.e., with minimal or no human intervention) or "semi-automatically" (i.e., with limited "high-level" human interaction)
• here are some example ideas (you can use, combine, extend these, or go with something else altogether)
  • modeling playing style of a particular instrument, or a group of instruments ("real" and/or imagined)
  • model a particular compositional style (e.g., "classic" Musique Concrete, a certain approach to minimalism)
  • the o-matic approach: model some aspect of a composer
  • leverage or musically sonify a mathematical model or a computer algorithm
• figure out what parameters you want to expose for your system, these parameters might serve as "seeds" or starting points, or guidelines/rules for your music generator to follow
• it might helpful to design and partition your system into modules that you can exert independent control over, or that take care of different types of tasks in the system
• create a composition using your system, paying attention to overall form, density, and texture throughout
• have fun!

Deliverables

As usual, turn in all files by putting them in your Library/Web/220a/ directory.

• 1) hw6.wav should go into the 220a directory
• 2) create a hw6/ directory, and put all the stuff below in there:
• 3) all related source/sound files (.wav/.ck)
• 4) a short README text (readme.txt) file that:
  • specifies instructions on running your programs
  • describes your process/adventure, and perhaps the ideas (technical/aesthetic) behind the composition
  • gives credit, if needed, for the sounds you are using
  • describe any difficulties you encountered in the process

Thanks!!!