Here's something for us to amuse ourselves with when recovering from the Christmas repast: http://darwintunes.org/evolve-music
What is happening is that the DarwinTunes experiment has been evolving a four bar loop that started out as a dismal primordial loop and now after 200 generations is starting to sound good [description adapted from Slashdot.org story].
Is't this like how most music must evolve in real life, whether it's a folk tune from centuries ago or Beethoven composing many versions of a work before he was satisfied?
interesting experiment... but... i don't think so. Music is linked to many different things in the lives of humans. speech, animal sounds (imitated) are surely linked to the developement of singing. rhythm associated with the human body (heartbeat, breath, steps) are surely a root for rhythms... our anatomy probably structures music (we got two hands, which in turn is linked to the functioning of our brain.... i wonder what music an octopus would make) and so probably basic experiences of human interaction (make a loud noise if you wanna be noticed). This experiment seems to have "pure" music as a starting point, as if music was some sort of basic chemical element... such a thing does not exist.
That things ultimately just work themselves out on thier own is probably the true hope of this new generation, so I can see the appeal of a thing like that. But music also developed in reaction to things as well, so there never was a strait linear evolution
The references to the octopus may have been sparked off by a television news item a week ago about an octopus scampering across the seabed carrying two halves of a coconut shell to make itself a home.
Here's the link. It's entertaining to watch, and reminds us how intelligent these creatures can be: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8408233.stm
There was an experiment to play dolphins music some while ago - seems that what they actually prefer to listen to is anchor chains rattling !
I did hear about the octopus and the Great Pipes - I'll have this wee lassie as soon as I can get the kilt off of her !
Music by natural selection
Music by natural selection
Here's something for us to amuse ourselves with when recovering from the Christmas repast:
http://darwintunes.org/evolve-music
What is happening is that the DarwinTunes experiment has been evolving a four bar loop that started out as a dismal primordial loop and now after 200 generations is starting to sound good [description adapted from Slashdot.org story].
Is't this like how most music must evolve in real life, whether it's a folk tune from centuries ago or Beethoven composing many versions of a work before he was satisfied?
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Music by natural selection
interesting experiment... but... i don't think so. Music is linked to many different things in the lives of humans. speech, animal sounds (imitated) are surely linked to the developement of singing. rhythm associated with the human body (heartbeat, breath, steps) are surely a root for rhythms... our anatomy probably structures music (we got two hands, which in turn is linked to the functioning of our brain.... i wonder what music an octopus would make) and so probably basic experiences of human interaction (make a loud noise if you wanna be noticed). This experiment seems to have "pure" music as a starting point, as if music was some sort of basic chemical element... such a thing does not exist.
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by Mina the Fiddler
Re: Music by natural selection
An octopus would get some astonishing riffs out of the Northumbrian pipes.
Best wildlife act since Freddie the Dolphin.
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Music by natural selection
"An octopus would get some astonishing riffs out of the Northumbrian pipes"
Or astonishing offspring.
# Posted on December 22nd 2009 by All Moldy
Re: Music by natural selection
That things ultimately just work themselves out on thier own is probably the true hope of this new generation, so I can see the appeal of a thing like that. But music also developed in reaction to things as well, so there never was a strait linear evolution
you have to muck it up
you have to
# Posted on December 23rd 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Music by natural selection
An octopus would get some astonishing riffs out of the Northumbrian pipes
mollusc you lower the tone of the debate?
# Posted on December 23rd 2009 by Rudall the time
Re: Music by natural selection
The references to the octopus may have been sparked off by a television news item a week ago about an octopus scampering across the seabed carrying two halves of a coconut shell to make itself a home.
Here's the link. It's entertaining to watch, and reminds us how intelligent these creatures can be:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8408233.stm
# Posted on December 23rd 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Music by natural selection
There was an experiment to play dolphins music some while ago - seems that what they actually prefer to listen to is anchor chains rattling !
I did hear about the octopus and the Great Pipes - I'll have this wee lassie as soon as I can get the kilt off of her !
# Posted on December 24th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Music by natural selection
Was the octopus who was assembling its own shelter an example of music by natural erection?
# Posted on December 29th 2009 by fauxcelt