Artificial Intelligence Within the Creative Process of Contemporary Classical Music

: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award with BBC Philharmonic

Abstract

This submission consists of nine pieces of original music in addition to a reflective and critical commentary. With one exception, these pieces are each for live performance, written for ensembles and soloists of various descriptions. The exception is an audio-visual work for fixed media. These pieces were written as part of my practice-based research PhD and concern the relationship between artificial intelligence and my compositional process. They outline the development of my compositional practice, resulting in the piece Silicon for orchestra and electronics which forms a major part of this submission. The commentary details the algorithms used in the creation of this music, and the aesthetic concerns I developed through working with artificial intelligence. These include the relationship between future and past, authorship, authenticity, musical structuralism, and agency, amongst others. It also describes methods and techniques relating to specific musical elements I developed through working with AI which have had a significant impact on my work. This research builds upon the areas of research related to my own, especially contemporary classical music, creativity and its relationship to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and algorithmic music practice. It is intended to contribute to the growing field of artistic research that exists within and between these areas.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	English
Sponsors	AHRC
Supervisor	Emily Howard (Supervisor), Marcus du Sautoy (Supervisor), David De Roure (Supervisor) & Simon Webb (Supervisor)