Concert & Discussion: Duo Improvisations between Human and AI
- 7pm
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Event information
About this event:
- Category:
- Classical Music | Platform / Discussion | Research | ResearchWorks
- Event type:
- Free | In-person
- Admission:
- Free
- Location:
- Silk Street Music Hall
Event information
This AHRC-funded collaboration project creates a dialogue between performer-improviser David Dolan and composer-programmer Oded Ben-Tal. It will be the first time in the UK that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) computerised system performs duo improvisations in real time with a human, in the context of tonal/modal and extended tonality, in concert.
In this event, part of our ResearchWorks series, their performance will be followed by a discussion in which audiences can hear more about the technology and artistry behind this ground-breaking project. The audience is warmly invited to address questions to both artists and share thoughts about the experience.
How it works
The AI system that Ben-Tal is developing for this project relies on machine listening to analyse Dolan's improvisations and generate (in real-time, and as an integral part of the performance) musical responses that relate to different aspects of his performance.
One of the pioneering aspects of David Dolan's artistic practice and research relates to his work on improvising in tonal/modal/enlarged tonality musical environments. The system Ben-Tal is developing analyses the sound from the piano and makes inferences about the musical content aimed at shaping an appropriate response.
To make the system truly responsive and flexible, Ben-Tal is not programming in assumptions of music theory or stylistic conventions. Instead, imaginative use of cutting-edge machine listening technology, combined with algorithmic composition methods, opens possibilities for dialogue between the performer and the AI system.
The aim is for a system that adapts its response to what it "hears". Most of the moment-to-moment sound production is handled by this interactive system. During the performance, Ben-Tal adjusts control parameters, thus shaping the computer's larger-scale aspects of the dialogue.
Performers
Dr Oded Ben-Tal is a composer and researcher working at the intersection of music, computing, and cognition. His compositions range from traditionally notated works, to interactive pieces for performers and real-time electronics and multimedia work. In recent years he is particularly interested in applying cutting edge computational tools in music including machine learning and machine listening. Since 2016 he has been researching music Al in collaboration with Dr. Bob Sturm. This work has been supported by two AHRC grants. He is currently leading an AHRC research network - Datasounds, Datasets, and Datasense - examining new data rich technologies for music creation more broadly. His music is regularly performed in the UK and internationally (Covid permitting). Oded is a senior lecturer in the Department of Performing Arts, Kingston University, London.
Professor David Dolan is a professor of classical improvisation and its application on solo and chamber music performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he is the head of the Centre for Creative Performance and Classical Improvisation and has been conducting masterclasses and workshops in major music centres and festivals worldwide.
An international concert pianist, researcher and educator, David has devoted a part of his career to the revival of the art of classical improvisation and its applications in performance. In his world-wide solo and chamber music performances, he returns to the tradition of incorporating extemporisations within repertoire in embellished repeats, eingangs & cadenzas, as well as improvised preludes, interludes and fantasies.
His research includes ways of applying expressive narrative and creativity to repertoire and improvised performance in solo and ensemble situations.
Venue information
Silk Street Theatre, Music Hall and Lecture Recital Room are located in the main Guildhall School building on Silk Street and for Barbican produced events the venue can also be accessed from the Barbican if you exit via the doors next to Barbican Kitchen on Level G.
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Silk Street
Barbican
EC2Y 8DT
