Editing Generative music (section)

== Theory ==
There are four primary perspectives on generative music (Wooller, R. et al., 2005) (reproduced with permission):

===Linguistic/structural===
Music composed from analytic theories that are so explicit as to be able to generate structurally coherent material (Loy and Abbott 1985; Cope 1991).  This perspective has its roots in the [[generative grammar]]s of language ([[Noam Chomsky|Chomsky]] 1956) and [[Generative theory of tonal music|music]] ([[Fred Lerdahl|Lerdahl]] and [[Ray Jackendoff|Jackendoff]] 1983), which generate material with a [[Recursion (computer science)|recursive]] [[Tree (computing)|tree structure]].

===Interactive/behavioural===
Music generated by a system component that has no discernible musical inputs. That is, "not transformational" (Rowe 1991; Lippe 1997:34; Winkler 1998). The Wotja software by Intermorphic, and the [[Koan (program)|Koan]] software by SSEYO used by Brian Eno to create ''Generative Music 1'', are both examples of this approach.

===Creative/procedural===
Music generated by processes that are designed and/or initiated by the composer.  [[Steve Reich]]'s ''[[It's Gonna Rain]]'' and [[Terry Riley]]'s ''[[In C]]'' are examples of this (Eno 1996).

===Biological/emergent===
Non-deterministic music (Biles 2002), or music that cannot be repeated, for example, ordinary wind chimes (Dorin 2001).  This perspective comes from the broader [[generative art]] movement.  This revolves around the idea that music, or sounds may be "generated" by a musician "farming" parameters within an ecology, such that the ecology will perpetually produce different variation based on the parameters and algorithms used. An example of this technique is [[Joseph Nechvatal]]'s [[Viral symphOny]]: a collaborative electronic [[noise music]] symphony<ref>''Observatori 2008: After The Future'', p. 80</ref> created between the years 2006 and 2008 using custom [[artificial life]] software based on a viral model.<ref>[http://www.vimeo.com/3908524 Joseph Nechvatal Interview: see end for mention of ''viral symphOny'']</ref>