Re: "Generative music" and "Algorithmic composition"

[Philip Rhoades]

People,

David took this discussion off-list and then accused me of not having 
the guts to respond on-list . . so here the reply I sent him:


On 2014-01-17 16:00, Philip Rhoades wrote:

David,


On 2014-01-17 15:20, David Kastrup wrote:
> Philip Rhoades <address@hidden> writes:
>
> > David,
> >
> > > Here is what you wrote in full:
> > >
> > >     From: Philip Rhoades <address@hidden>
> > >     Subject: Re: "Generative music" and "Algorithmic composition"
> > >     To: address@hidden
> > >     Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 17:58:28 +1100 (8 hours, 56 minutes, 8
> > > seconds ago)
> > >     Reply-To: address@hidden
>
> [...]
>
> > >     I get a GUILE error on line 5
> > >
> > >       $(let
> > >
> > >     anyway . . I tried changing it to:
> > >
> > >       $@(let
> > >
> > >     but that didn't work either (obviously I don't know what I'm
> > > doing . .)
> > >
> > >     Regards,
> > >
> > >     Phil.
> > >
> > >
> > > You did not, I repeat _not_ mention in any way that you used any code
> > > other than that which was quoted here (actually stating "Here it is
> > > after running convert-ly (from 2.14.0 to 2.18.0):"
> >
> >
> > They are Paul's words - not mine - as I have repeatedly said now - I
> > forgot to run the convert-ly myself and I missed that comment in
> > Paul's note . .
>
> Then tell Paul not to undersign his mails with "Regards, Phil" and send
> them from your address.


Paul's email:

Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 12:22:28 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Morris <address@hidden>
To: address@hidden
Subject: Re: "Generative music" and "Algorithmic composition"

SoundsFromSound wrote
Paul, that is a great little bit of code! Thank you for sharing 
that...I'm
going to play around with it later today. :)

Glad you like it, but David Kastrup gets the credit for it:
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-user/2014-01/msg00638.html

I just changed it from a set of 12 chromatic notes to those in C major 
and
added \transpose.  Maybe it's worth adding it to the LSR... hmmm... 
looks
like there's already a random note generator there:
http://lsr.dsi.unimi.it/LSR/Item?id=274

It generates notes in the current key from (middle) c' up to g''
Here it is after running convert-ly (from 2.14.0 to 2.18.0):

\version "2.18.0"
\score {
  {
    $(let ((random-state (seed->random-state (current-time))))
       (make-sequential-music
        (map (lambda (x)
               (let ((idx (random 12 random-state)))
                 (make-event-chord
                  (list
                   (make-music 'NoteEvent
                     'duration (ly:make-duration 2 0 1/1)
                     'pitch (ly:make-pitch
                             (quotient idx 7)
                             (remainder idx 7)
                             0))))))
          (make-list 24))))
  }
}

-Paul



> > > You did not mention what code you used
> >
> >
> > Are you talking about which snippet or which version of Lilypond? - I
> > think it was clear that I was using the snippet from the link that
> > Paul provided.
>
> You didn't: the error message you cited _clearly_ is not from the code
> provided in the link.  It does match the code you quoted, but what you
> tested was a half-botched combination of old and new code.


Yes, I made a mistake thinking that the snippet was exactly what Paul 
posted.


> > > and where this error message was
> > > from.
> >
> > What do you mean? - The error message came from attempting to compile
> > the snippet from LSR.
>
> No, it didn't.  The snippet from the LSR does not contain $(let
> ... anywhere.


Yes, I have already explained that, I said that I tested it once 
unchanged - got an error message, tested it again with the '#' changed 
to '$' - still got the error message . . also as I said if I had posted 
the original snippet, there would not have been an issue . .


> > > It was absolutely impossible to guess that you were testing
> > > anything other than what you quoted.
> >
> >
> > I think it was clear I was testing the snippet from LSR.
>
> You weren't.  The snippet from the LSR does not contain $(let
> ... anywhere.


Previously expained . .


> > > You did not, at any time, in spite of repeated notices that you
> > > failed to provide the problematic source and the actual error
> > > messages, provide this missing information until quite a bit of time
> > > later.
> >
> > I think you are misreading what I wrote.
>
> No, I didn't.


So now it is clear - we have both made mistakes - I have admitted mine 
but you won't admit yours:

- not posting the reminder about convert-ly

- misreading a note as Phil instead of Paul

and those are just the ones I know about . .

Now if you can't admit those, then (now that we are off the list) what 
this argument has been about is: "dick-swinging" - OK yours is bigger 
than mine - you are right - you have never made mistakes, your brain is 
too big . .

Regards,

Phil.
--
Philip Rhoades

GPO Box 3411
Sydney NSW      2001
Australia
E-mail:  address@hidden