Modular Algorithmic Sound System (M.A.S.S.)

A performance system for algorithmic music improvisation and composition.

MASS is a software system for creating, exploring, and improvising music.

It is a composition-instrument that contains compositional ideas in abstract form. For example, melodies are represented as relative distances rather than explicit pitches, which allows further manipulation of the basic pitch gesture. Rhythms are equally abstract - represented as binary numbers and geometric algorithms.

The system is designed to make structural musical changes intuitively available during performance/composition. Musical choices, decisions, and combinations are encapsulated in parameters, and as such, using the system becomes a form of exploration of musical possibility spaces - the interpolation of the composer’s musical ideas, finding unknown zones in your own musical material. There is no difference between performing, composing, and improvising with this system. All acts are equal in the sense that they are explorations where the composer-performer is finding new musical territories at the same time as the listener.

About the system

MASS is an abbreviation for Modular Algorithmic Sound System. It is a program that is written using SuperCollider by Mads Kjeldgaard, and it serves as an accumulation of years of artistic research and development in the field of algorithmic composition - both musical and technical - culminating in this system.

The system is modular and currently consists of the following components:

• Pulsal Arpeggiator

• Ambient Chord Progressor

• Abstract Rhythm Machine

• Canonical Growth Generator

All of these individual components are connected to a global control system where things like cadence, timing, harmony, phrasing modulations, etcetera are set and then propagated to the individual components.

When performing with it live, the composer uses a tablet running TouchOSC as an interface for the program, which allows touch gestures to change the system.

One of the main libraries used in the software is a library called Performative, by the same author, designed to create musical parameters and advanced, performative interfaces. It is open source and may be downloaded here.

The system does not use AI.

Sound examples

Here are some sound snippets of things recorded with the system.