Sunday 15 April 2018

Week 3 [16-22.04.2018] Story of musical instruments

Story of musical instruments


Music has been accompanying people for years. It is hard to say when exactly everything started.  Music is as old as human beings. People love music. Some people love music more, some less but for everybody music plays some role in their lives.
In overall, we can distinguish 6 periods in history of music and these are prehistoric, ancient, early, common practice, modern and postmodern. Each period is significant for music development. Let’s start from the begging. We are in the Palaeolithic. Most of us remember it as the oldest period in the history of human being. When we were learning how to produce the first stone tools we also started making music. It is probably too soon to talk about instruments other than the human voice and natural objects. There are a few theories how it all began. One of them and most probable for me is that music started when the human started to follow natural rhythmic sounds. The first known musical instrument, a bone flute came from 41,000 to 32,768 years before the Common Era. Most of changes occurred during the Renaissance period and it is connected with the biggest musical instruments development. Nowadays, companies still work on musical instruments and make them better. Instrument’s appearance doesn’t change drastically.
Companies focus mainly on instruments quality of sound. In the 18th century the music industry adapted electricity. The fastest development of electronic musical instruments started during the digital era, which is from 1980 to 2000. There were a lot of instruments like for example digital synthesizer. Musical industry had started change before the digital era. Everybody knows how a electric guitar changed the music  industry. Today, it’s hard to imagine how rock music would be without a electric guitar. We are surrounded by computers
and electronic gadgets. It’s getting be normal to treat computer as an instrument. People produce amazing things and they  use only computer. Every year there is a less acoustic music. Electronic music reaches hearts of more and more people. Music is in a strong correlation with a receivers. Our musical tastes change every year. Electronic musical instruments offer a lot of opportunities but the concert of a dj who perform their music sets it’s not the same as a performance of band. Maybe it’s about the taste and taste is not a matter of dispute but I’m interested in your opinions.
And here is something for fun:
https://experiments.withgoogle.com/ai/beat-blender/view/
Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?
Is there any chance that acoustic instruments will disappear?
In the light of artificial intelligence, do you thing robots could replace us in making music?
Sources:
https://experiments.withgoogle.com/ai/beat-blender/view/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_musical_instrument

33 comments:

  1. I think both electronic and acoustic music have their own beauty, both are great, but just different. So sometimes I prefer the first and sometimes the second one, depends on my mood at given time.
    I suppose there is no chance for acoustic instruments to disappear, because they are a part of classic of music and they produce so beautiful sounds, that people will never have enough of them.
    There were attempts already to use an artificial intelligence to create music. Though it had some results they were far from satisfactory level ;P But maybe it will change in a future.

    Additionally, beside questions you asked, I would like to mention about hemi-sync (an abbreviation from hemisphere synchronization), what is some kind of modulated sounds which affect our brains to feel and work in a certain way. Very interesting, but also dangerous, issue, related with music.
    Another thing is a frequency of tunning instruments, where nowadays sound A is set to 440Hz instead of harmonic 432Hz. Supposingly the second one has great positive effect on listeners, both physically and psychicaly.
    And have any of you ever noticed that many modern songs are a little too fast? Maybe it is a conspiracy theory, but it really annoys me. I think modern music should be a little slower, more similiar to frequency of human heart beat. What do you think?

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    1. I play drums and I don't feel comfortable with slow tempo. The average frequency of heart beat is 60 beat per minute. It's very slow. When I play music I prefer tempo more like 90 or 100 beat per minute. On the other hand when I tried to relax I listed slow music.

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  2. Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?
    – I like both of them. Personally I consider acoustic music as more calm and easy, although you can achieve similir feeling with electronic music. In a ntushell, I like music and it doesn't matter for me if its acoustic or electronic.

    Is there any chance that acoustic instruments will disappear?
    – I doubt it. Although electronic music is getting more and more popularity and its present is bigger in the mainstream, I still think acoustics instruments will never vanish. How can you imagine a bonfire with electric instruments instead of acoustic ones? :)

    In the light of artificial intelligence, do you thing robots could replace us in making music?
    – Maybe, but I think it could lead to having less music genres. Once in a while music has its breakthorugh thanks to a new artist who is creating new kind of music or is redefining old music's genre. In my opinion AI would have a lot of trouble to come up with something completely new.

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    1. I can't imagine bonfire with electric instruments and it's hard to imagine because we are limited by source power. There is nothing more beautiful than bonfire with acoustic guitar, you're right!

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  3. In todays world, where creating and promoting what some of us wouldn't even call music is a multi-billion dollar business i think it is very important to listen to acoustic music. I liked this channel on YT which makes excellent covers with live instruments, below are 2 of my favorite covers (the sax guy is insane!)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlU5jsQi25E
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVXziMFEqX0

    As shown in the aforementioned example acoustic instruments are doing good and are not going anywhere :) I can't imagine going to an opera for Carmen or Swan Lake and seeing only DJ with his console. Live instruments in such places are one of their fundamentals!

    I've hear there were some attempts to create music with AI but i haven't heard of any success with that.

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    1. Thank for covers! I'll check it for sure! If you like covers like those I recommend you BBC 1 Radio channel on youtube. It's my favourite channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bbcradio1

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  4. Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?

    I definitely prefer acoustic over electronic music. I had some experience to play guitar, acoustic and electric one and it felt amazing. The realness, the emotions you get when you play is something electric music will never achieve. I don't care about the genre of music, it matters how good the song is.

    Is there any chance that acoustic instruments will disappear?

    I don’t think that could happen any time soon. On concerts play using real instruments, not just some fake AI. Also classical music can't be just replaced by electric instruments. It is always in style and we can never have too much of it. Like soundtracks for games or movies are usually recorded when playing on real instruments. You can really feel the difference when listening to it after. Electronic music is growing bigger but it doesn't mean that is the only kind that is produced.

    In the light of artificial intelligence, do you thing robots could replace us in making music?

    I mean robots are already replacing some of our jobs, music can’t be an exception. I think when AI will get even more advanced this could happen. For example Japan created virtual singer, Hatsune Miku. Her most popular track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuJ6UR_pD5s
    Her voice is synthesized. She doesn't’t exist but she has millions of fans. So yes, I think that robots could replace us in making music.

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    1. Your video terrify me. I haven't known about this virtual singer. For some reasons it looks nice but on the other hand I'm afraid of the future. Thanks for your input and a video!

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  5. Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?
    - I think i like both, but honestly there's much more electronic music in my life. Maybe because my home life and social life give me more this time of music. Look, even in radio station, the rock music have an electronic accent. Acoustic start to be for hipsters or niche.

    Is there any chance that acoustic instruments will disappear?
    - No, and I'm hundred percent sure about it ! There are many of very old instruments, from many generations before and even these days some enthusiastic people play on them.

    In the light of artificial intelligence, do you thing robots could replace us in making music?
    If we look for music structure like on mathematic diagrams we can observe and bring some similarities, after this we can teach some of AI computer and then probably it can compose its own music.

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    1. It's not only about the electronic accent in rock music. In my opinion there is no rock genre without electric guitar. I don't think that acoustic instruments are for hipsters or niche. I'm in love with the drums and I think there is no way to replace acoustic set with electric.

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  6. I like both, electronic and acoustic music, but listen to electronic more.
    It's impossible that acoustic instruments will disappear, they still have a lot of work to do :). Electronic music is only one genre of hundreds (maybe thousands) other genres which most of them uses some kind of instruments so I don't believe that they will so easily disappear.
    If artificial intelligence after analyzing a bunch of data can generate images on choosing a topic, then it certainly can generate music. But we must remember that will not be real music or art. On the other hand decision that something is an art belongs to the receiver. It can look or sound cool, but it only mix of the data we gave it to learn. At this point AI cannot come up with something 100% original, its outcome is always going to be effected on training data.

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    1. I think the same that they will so easily disappear. Non electronic music is so beautiful especially when it's a live performance! If you like jazz music you have to see Warsaw's jazz club, called 12on14!

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  7. 1. Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?
    It depends on my mood. I listen to a wide range of music. Maybe with the exception of disco polo. I don't prefer this kind o music ;)

    2. Why? Will there be too few raw materials? :D I totally agree with Maciej!

    3. And write lyrics of the song? I think that they do not think as abstractly as we do. So we are on better position ;)

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    1. You seems to be very confident about it but I like it. I like the fact that you think there is no chance acoustic instruments!

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  8. 1.I like both types of music. Each one affects on different emotions. According to me, the division into musical styles is not important, but the songs and their performers are important.
    The performers express feelings and emotions that we experience while listening.
    2.In my opinion, acoustic instruments will never dissapear. They are irreplaceable, synthesizers and other electronic novelties can't replace the sound of acoustic instruments.
    3.In my opinion, robots can not replace us in 100% in any field. Creating music requires an aesthetic sense.
    It is possible that robots will make music. Will it be good?

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    1. You're right about AI. Robots can't replace us in making music. I don't think It will be good.

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  9. I listen many different types of music. In my car I have many CDs with concert recordings. I think that live instruments and voices with audience reaction are the most emotional music.
    On the other hand strings, acustic musics is good for me if I need concentration when working in computer and reading books. I hate silience in working room. I love ukulele sounds - it relaxes me. I think AI and any robotics algorithms can not replace great real, acustic musics.

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    1. I love to listen music in car. I don't have a car but when I have opportunity to visit my brother for a few days I borrow car from him and I drive for hours with a music.

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  10. 1. Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?

    I listen to electronic more often if we treat electric guitar as electronic music. Definitely not digital ;) eg classic rock often mixes songs on electric guitar and acoustic. So my answer is - I like both :)

    2. Is there any chance that acoustic instruments will disappear?

    Chances always exists. It will probably happen sometime, or new acoustic instruments will be created. Or a completely new kind of music, quantum music ;)

    3. In the light of artificial intelligence, do you thing robots could replace us in making music?

    With such questions I always use the site willrobotstakemyjob :) It turns out that creative work is very difficult to replace by robots.

    https://willrobotstakemyjob.com/27-2042-musicians-and-singers - "This job has an Automation Risk Level: Totally Safe. (or 7.4% probability of automation)"

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    1. I like you site willrobotstakemyjob. It's very funny but in positive sense! I will share with my friends, I'm curious about there opinion about the site.

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  11. Personally, I prefer good music; regardless of the genre. But I can tell you that acoustic music is more impressive for me because I can’t play on any instrument, so you should see my point. I have a few of friends who are a members of punk rock bands and these who are making electronic music, so I have some knowledge of their feelings about comparison electronic music devices and acoustic ones. These who are playing on guitars likes electronic music and conversely. And I’m also sure that acoustic instruments will never disappear because there is always someone who’s will cultivate one of them. Just like these folks who still wearing armours and fighting with swords for fun. It’s partly an answer for the last question. People loves to make music. It can’t be done by AI of robots because in my opinion music is expression of HUMAN feelings.

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    1. I think you can play on any instrument, maybe it's not your kind of hobby but I'm sure you can!

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  12. What kind of music I listen to depends on my mood. Sometimes it is acoustic music, sometimes electronic.
    Acoustic instruments are very popular and make beautiful sounds. They have many fans all over the world. I think that there is very little chance that they will disappear.
    Technology is moving forward every day. Machines replace us in new responsibilities at work and at home. I think that in the future there will be a level that man will not have to work at all. So robots will be able to replace us in creating music. The question is. What are we going to do? How will our life look like? I would like to live to this moment and find out.

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    1. I don't want to be true what you said. I think there is no way to replace human beings in making music. It's hard to imagine song composed by some robot. Music is full of emotions and robots can't have emotions.

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  13. That's an interesting topic. I love music but I've never wonder about its prehistoric roots.
    Do I prefer acoustic music or is electronic music my first choice? And if I understood you correctly, electronic is everything that is not purely acoustic. In that case I would have to say I like both - depending on my mood, the weather or time of day. Acoustic is usually great for the calm evening, while during cleaning my apartment I prefer listening to heavy music with great electric guitar sound.

    I don't think acoustic instruments will ever disappear. They are classic, unique, they have an old soul. In my opinion many people, including me, will always have a need to listen to acoustic music once in a while.

    If robots are going to replace us in making music, it won't happen for a long time, I'm sure. I had a chance to listen to a few pieces of music created by a deep learning algorithm and I have to admit it wasn't a pleasant experience. :) Only one of them was something you could call acceptable.

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    1. Thanks for you opinion. I think prehistoric root are very interesting, especially for me because I love music, probably as much as you do! Nowadays instruments have some what happened many, many years ago!

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  14. Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?
    Is there any chance that the acoustic instruments will disappear?
    In the light of artificial intelligence, can robots replace us in creating music?

    I think that electronic music is going through its golden period. You can like it or not, but it is more and more often made by available devices. Choosing to go to the concert, I propose to experiment. Many live performances can be better than what we'll include on youtube.

    Robots can replace a human being in certain matters, but remember that in music feelings are important.

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    1. You're right. It's definitely good time for a electronic music! Nowadays, there is a lot of musicians who make music only on a computer and they don't need any acoustic instrument. What's more they become very successive and promising artists!

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  15. There are great elctronic tracks. In my opinion the best one is Daft Punk: Tron Legacy OST which they made in cooperation with Hans Zimmer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIM8RxaK5rE&t=2808s). Tron film and its soundtrack is one great show and it's quite hard to look at them separately. And thatsjust one example, as there are many others: Prodigy, Faithless.. but still they are people who compose it. So for now I think that it'll stay this way, but in the future? Who knows.

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    1. I like cooperation between great musicians, especially when they are from completely different words! Thank for your sound, I'll check it!

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  16. Do you prefer acoustic music or electronic music?
    I like both of them but electronic music is more present in my life :)

    Is there any chance that acoustic instruments will disappear?
    No. They create different style of music and there is a noticeable difference between electronic and acoustic music.

    In the light of artificial intelligence, do you thing robots could replace us in making music?
    Replace? Unlikely but at some point artificial intelligence should be capable of creating high quality music. There are projects like Magenta aimed at finding out what AI can do in art and how creative can it be. For example Sony’s Flow Machine generated pop song based on The Beatles style. Maybe in a decade music composers will collaborate with AI?

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    1. You point of view about collaboration is very interesting! I have never thought about it! I think you are right and musicians will be work with robots as a partners!

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  17. I prefer both type of music. I am very sensitive to music. Maybe a reason could be a fact, that I play piano for 5 years. My passion is taking part in concerts and listening to music. I think that acoustic instruments will be still alive, the sound of this type of instrument is very characteristic and has some kind of soul in contrast to electronic replacements.

    In my opinion music is it is something that should go straight from the heart and artificial intelligence shouldn't create because it will never be able to match human sensitivity.

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