We have already seen what neural networks are capable of, right down to the creation of real human faces. But it doesn't end there - the scope of neural networks is much wider than we think. Thus, Yandex specialists developed a neural network that was able to write a piece for a symphony orchestra with viola. And this piece will be performed.
The piece, which lasts 8 minutes, was created jointly with the composer Kuzma Bodrov. To write the play, the neural network was trained using the recordings of various composers of classical music, including Bach. By the way, the developers of the neural network already have experience: a couple of years ago they were able to record with the help of this technology a music album in the style of the Civil Defense group.
Of course, the neural network did not write the entire play. Alas, about 90% of the material that she created never made it into the final version. Most of the work was done by the composer: it was he who listened to the generated melodic lines and did the full orchestration. Nevertheless, it can already become an excellent assistant in the creation of works, because for composing music, as a rule, it is just a small piece of melody or chord that is missing.
The written work will be performed at the closing of the Winter International Arts Festival in Sochi. It will be played by the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Yuri Bashmet - he will perform the solo viola part.
In 2017, the robot played the role of conductor of a symphony orchestra. The performance was led by the robot YuMi, developed by the specialists of the Swiss company ABB. More than 800 spectators from different countries came to see such an unusual performance. After all, not every day on the stage of the famous theater, next to the legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli, a two-handed machine waves a conductor's baton.
It would be interesting to see how the neural network will completely create a piece on its own, and the conductor will help the orchestra perform it (and there, robots will be taught to play musical instruments). Such developments already exist: for example, the Lamus computing cluster is capable of generating entire musical works.
Alexander Bogdanov
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