Skip to main content

Evolving Four-Part Harmony Using Genetic Algorithms

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 6625))

Abstract

This paper presents a genetic algorithm that evolves a four-part musical composition–melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically. Unlike similar attempts in the literature, our composition evolves from a single musical chord without human intervention or initial musical material. The mutation rules and fitness evaluation are based on common rules from music theory. The genetic operators and individual mutation rules are selected from probability distributions that evolve alongside the musical material.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Biles, J.: GenJam: A genetic algorithm for generating jazz solos. In: Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, pp. 131–131 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cope, D.: Virtual Music: Computer Synthesis of Musical Style. The MIT Press, Cambridge (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Göksu, H., Pigg, P., Dixit, V.: Music composition using Genetic Algorithms (GA) and multilayer perceptrons (MLP). In: Advances in Natural Computation, pp. 1242–1250 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Holland, J.: Adaptation in natural and artificial systems. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Horowitz, D.: Generating rhythms with genetic algorithms. In: Proceedings Of The National Conference On Artificial Intelligence, pp. 1459–1459. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Jacob, B.: Composing with genetic algorithms, pp. 452–455 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kostka, S., Payne, D., Schindler, A.: Tonal harmony, with an introduction to twentieth-century music. McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Maddox, T., Otten, J.: Using an Evolutionary Algorithm to Generate Four-Part 18th Century Harmony. Mathematics and Computers in Modern Science: Acoustics and Music, Biology and Chemistry, Business and Economics, 83–89 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Marques, M., Oliveira, V., Vieira, S., Rosa, A.: Music composition using genetic evolutionary algorithms. In: Proceedings of the 2000 Congress on Evolutionary Computation, vol. 1, pp. 714–719 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  10. McIntyre, R.: Bach in a box: The evolution of four part baroque harmony using the genetic algorithm. In: Proceedings of the First IEEE Conference on Evolutionary Computation, IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence, pp. 852–857 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Papadopoulos, G., Wiggins, G.: AI methods for algorithmic composition: A survey, a critical view and future prospects. In: AISB Symposium on Musical Creativity, pp. 110–117 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Phon-Amnuaisuk, S., Wiggins, G.: The four-part harmonisation problem: a comparison between genetic algorithms and a rule-based system. In: Proceedings of the AISB 1999 Symposium on Musical Creativity (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Towsey, M., Brown, A., Wright, S., Diederich, J.: Towards melodic extension using genetic algorithms, pp. 54–64. International Forum of Educational Technology & Society (2001)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Donnelly, P., Sheppard, J. (2011). Evolving Four-Part Harmony Using Genetic Algorithms. In: Di Chio, C., et al. Applications of Evolutionary Computation. EvoApplications 2011. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6625. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20520-0_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20520-0_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20519-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20520-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics