Techniques for Quantum-Computing-Aided Algorithmic Composition: Experiments in Rhythm, Timbre, Harmony, and Space

TL;DR

This paper explores innovative quantum computing techniques applied to algorithmic music composition, including modeling decision making, timbre generation, harmonic textures, and spatial sound manipulation, with algorithms and practical examples.

Contribution

It introduces novel quantum algorithms for music composition, demonstrating how quantum simulation and measurement can control musical attributes at various structural levels.

Findings

Quantum simulation models decision making in music composition.

Quantum particle tracking produces noise-based timbres.

Quantum measurement error introduces spatial sound perturbations.

Abstract

Quantum computing can be employed in computer-aided music composition to control various attributes of the music at different structural levels. This article describes the application of quantum simulation to model compositional decision making, the simulation of quantum particle tracking to produce noise-based timbres, the use of basis state vector rotation to cause changing probabilistic behaviors in granular harmonic textures, and the exploitation of quantum measurement error to cause noisy perturbations of spatial soundpaths. We describe the concepts fundamental to these techniques, we provide algorithms and software enacting them, and we provide examples demonstrating their implementation in computer-generated music.