Can AI replace the humanity of Classical Music?

"In October 2021, the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn interpreted the first movement of Beethoven's 10th unfinished symphony, which was completed with the use of artificial intelligence. A team of computer scientists, music historians, musicologists, and composers developed the 'Beethoven AI' to analyze Beethoven's music style and life, using the sketches he left behind of the 10th symphony, plus works from other composers that had a notable influence on his life, such as Johann Sebastian Bach, to generate pieces that reflect what he would have composed."

"Beethoven AI, as others AI composition programs, produces music in the same way ChatGPT produces outcomes. It uses machine learning and algorithms to analyse musical data and patterns, and generative models to produce music based on inputted prompts. Hence, the AI tool was trained by the team of experts and provided with all the necessary information for it to understand, be contextualized, and finally, be able to create something that Beethoven himself could have written."

"This milestone raises an important question that becomes more relevant day by day: as technology becomes increasingly capable of initiating creativity, what remains distinctly human in the classical music world? Can AI replace the sensitivity and humanity needed to compose, interpret, convey the emotions, or communicate the composer's intended message? Classical music has historically been a niche domain. It was born in the house of Jesus as the natural successor after choral music."

In October 2021, the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn performed the first movement of Beethoven's unfinished 10th symphony after it was completed using artificial intelligence. A multidisciplinary team developed 'Beethoven AI' by analyzing Beethoven's sketches, his musical style, life, and influential composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach. The system uses machine learning, algorithms, and generative models to analyze musical patterns and produce new pieces from prompts. The tool was trained with expert-curated information to contextualize and emulate Beethoven's potential output. The AI completion prompts questions about whether technology can match human sensitivity in composing, interpreting, and conveying musical emotion. Over time, globalization and the spread of information expanded classical music's audience beyond aristocracy.

Read at TNW | Music