Michael Smetanin: Sharp (1992)

Abstract

"Sharp is one of my pieces that was composed using a cellular automaton, which is a system something like a number game played out on a grid, to generate musical material. The fundamental automaton used for Sharp is the same as the one used to compose a slightly earlier piece, Strange Attractions, the first piece I composed with an automaton. The difference between the two pieces is that for Sharp I overlaid two other automatons to increase the musical possibilities that could be rendered at any point and/or the complexity of information. The title of the piece refers to the way the music becomes focused or sharpens onto various musical ideas throughout. The reverse process also occurs from time to time." -- Michael Smetanin