experiments in algorithmic composition

by Hans Straub

C64 Random Impression

The pieces entitled “C64 Random Impression” are some old stuff - not mathematical yet. They are the result of some simple experiments in algorithmic composition that I did on the Commodore 64. The melody-generating algorithm is quite simple, more or less random choices out of a given set of pitches. All pitches are chosen from a whole-tone scale so everything is more or less harmonic; the result is slightly impressionistic. Because of the simple algorithm, the piece tends to become boring after a certain time when listened to “actively” - but it does not badly as background. Commodore 64 enthusiasts will probably like it :-).

Software for the Commodore 64, written by Hans Straub. The sound programming is mainly in assembler, with a basic program around, which also does the melody generation.

C64 Atmosphere

Statistic sound experiment inspired by Iannis Xenakis: pitches sliding up and down like atoms in a gas.(Unfortunately, there was an artithmetic overflow in the software that caused all pitches to end in a low grumble - for the same reason, the whole thing ends after 50 seconds...) Maybe not exactly music, but in any case an example for the surprising sound facilities of the Commodore 64.


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more info:
http://home.datacomm.ch/straub/