Art/Future (ABO 1) - Music and its significance in the age of AI

Music and its meaning in the age of AI

What is the difference between a work of art created by a human and one created by artificial intelligence? Recent advances in the field of machine learning have made it impossible in many contexts to objectively distinguish between human- and machine-generated images, texts or even pieces of music. However, as soon as we know that an artificial intelligence is behind a work of art, our relationship to it inevitably changes. We are then inclined to miss originality or emotional depth in it, or we find its structure illogical. In short, we automatically look for evidence of what we intuitively assume: Surely an algorithm cannot create art to which we respond with authentic emotion.

But what does it mean when this does happen? When a painting, a poem or a composition touches us, even though the work is not based on lived human experience? Does the origin of art ultimately not matter if we can no longer recognize the handwriting of artificial intelligence? These questions open up a debate about the fundamental nature of art and creativity.

Our program "Art/Future" presents pieces of music that have been composed either completely, partially or entirely without artificial intelligence. We see this concert as an experiment in perception. Without further information about the works, we leave it up to you, the listeners, to puzzle over the origin of the sounds in this concert. You can decide for yourself where the meaning and beauty lie.

With works by
Malte Giesen, Jennifer Walshe, Joanna Bailie, Justina Repeckaité,
Sahin Kureta, Yuri Demetz (UA) and Alfran García (UA)

ENSEMBLE RECHERCHE
Anja Clift, flute
Eduardo Olloqui, oboe
Shizuyo Oka, clarinet
Klaus Steffes-Holländer, piano
Christian Dierstein, percussion
Adam Woodward, violin
Sofia von Atzingen, Viola
Åsa Åkerberg, cello
Lukas Nowok, sound direction

Christie Finn, soprano

This project is part of Ensemble Recherche's broader plan to initiate a discussion about artificial intelligence and its impact on art and creativity in its 2024/25 season ("What is Real/What is Not").