Beethoven in the age of A.I.

The project “TransVariations - Music beyond the limits of time and technology” was initiated by excellent portuguese pianist Alfonso Benetti where he invited me and colleague Trond Engum at NTNU to investigate radical audio processing techniques in the context of a classical piano repertoire. As our first test bed, we used Beethovens “32 Variations in C minor”, to fabulate on the question “What would Beethoven have done, considering the sonic tools available today?”. This the toungue-in-cheek title “Beethovein in the age of A.I.”. The project is hosted by the University of Aveiro and funded by EEA Bilateral Relations. The project will run for two years, with two intensive work sessions per year.

Our first session was in Trondheim in April 2023, resulting in draft versions of all variations in the Beethoven composition. We allowed ourselves free rein with studio techniques, adaptive and automated audio processing tools, and generally all that could be fun to try. The draft versions will then be subject to reflection on how we can develop these ideas further.

Alfonso at the grand piano, with my processing setup in front