Improvisation, interactivity and instability: artistic transformations

Unlike non-idiomatic improvisation with human improvisers, it is more difficult to create intense and surprising music when interacting with a computer. Also, the concept of improvisation as a musical dialogue is difficult for a computer to recognize. In this doctoral research, Peter van Bergen aims to translate his aesthetic views on musical improvisation and composition, as well as his musical experiences in interacting with human improvisers, into an environment where human musical improvisers and artificial improvisers (hard- & software personalities, computers) work together.
To this end, software for interactive and autonomous improvisation will be developed, in collaboration with programmer Johan van Kreij. These software tools can help to investigate the “true, unstable nature” of improvisation and composition and make it audible and visible in a practical context. The research should lead to new compositional improvisational work, unpredictable improvisations with their own aesthetic signature, a new personal instrumental and improvisational technique and syntax, texts describing artistic research, and theory on improvisation in relation to composition, computers, interactivity and instability.