Algorithmic and Systems Music. An Introductory Seminar to Generative Systems as Applied to Art and Music in Particular :: December 17-19, 2010 :: Hangar, Passatge del Marquès de Santa Isabel, 40, Barcelona.

Over the past 30 years, and especially during the past decade, several environments and programming languages have been developed leading to a greater interest in that which is often called generative art, which – among other things – proposes an approach to the algorithm as a tool of creation. These generative practices often raise interesting questions about the nature of the creative act, blurring the essence of apparently clear concepts such as authorship, tool, work or process.

This seminar will provide a historical overview, from antiquity to the computer age, on the use of algorithms and rules to generate sound and musical pieces. Roc Jiménez de Cisneros will discuss in depth several current generative musical practices, using some of his own pieces (and also some of his usual collaborators) as a departing point, while inviting participants to share their own works, experiences or concerns in the field of generative composition.

Session #01

:: History without chronological order of the application algorithms and mathematical procedures to art and music.
:: From Pythagorism to the notion of “generative art.”
:: Indeterminism and randomness in the arts.
:: Mapping: transformation of data into parameters of a work.
:: Systems, algorithms and recipes as the engine of a work.
:: Beyond random: chaotic systems. Mapping of attractors.
:: Fractals. Art as a parable of nature.
:: From the Musikalisches Würfelspiel to the Illiac Suite: redefining authorship.
:: Auditioning and viewing of works by (among others): Sol Lewitt, Iannis Xenakis, Herbert Brun, Lejaren Hiller, Gary Lee Nelson, John Cage, Manfred Mohr, Cornelius Cardew, Ben Fry, The League of Automatic Music Composers and Steina and Woody Vasulka.

Session #02

:: Analysis of works by contemporary artists in the field of generative composition.
:: Talk and round of questions with Wernfried Lackner, artist, programmer and member of the Gullibloon collective, who during the days of the seminar will be exhibiting the installation “Army of Darkness.”
:: Auditioning and viewing of works by (among others): Gullibloon, Fredrik Olofsson, Mark Fell, SND, Zbigniew Karkowski, Florian Hecker, Joseph Nechvatal, Jodi, Farmers Manual, Torsten Fleisch, Rubén Patiño, Joe Gilmore, Chris Brown and Roc Jiménez Cisneros.

Session #03

:: During this session participants will put in practice some of the concepts presented during the previous days of the seminar.
This seminar will be taught in Spanish.

Roc Jiménez de Cisneros (Barcelona, 1975) is an artist and composer. Since 1996 he is the core of a computer music project called EVOL and has had his work published by internationally renowned record labels in the context of new experimental music.Under the maxim “Computer music for hooligans”, Roc has shaped a discourse where structural approaches close to fractal geometry, stolen concepts of quantum theory and elements of rave culture collide.

Since 1997 and together with Anna Ramos he has co-directed the label and art collective ALKU, which has published works by artists such as Goodiepal, Yasunao Tone, Wobbly, Zbigniew Karkowski, Edwin van der Heide, Mark Fell, Judy Dunaway, Florian Hecker, Felix Kubin and Kevin Drumm, among others.

Time Schedule:
Friday 17.12.2010, 18.00-22.00h
Saturday 18.12.2010, 11:00–20:00h (with lunch break)
Sunday 19.12.2010, 11.00-20.00h (with lunch break)

Location: Hangar. Passatge del Marquès de Santa Isabel, 40. Barcelona. Metro Poble Nou.

Price: 90 € (or cheaper if you sign up for more than one seminar… more information here: Sonic Seminars – autumn/winter 2010)

To sign up, please email info@lullcec.org. Please include a brief description of your background and/or motivation.

This activity is organized by l’ull cec with the collaboration of Consell Nacional de la Cultura i les Arts and the support of Hangar.