Methodological Framework and Design Process for Applying Evolutionary Simulation to Musical Interactions

This paper focuses on a methodological framework where the creative design process evolves through iterative cycles. The design process undertakes a complex network of tasks for integrating two domain models: dynamical simulation and musical interaction. The framework accounts for engineering technical and compositional affordances to accommodate evolving behaviors to be expressed in real time performance interplay. This is illustrated with a case study of simulated swarms of heterogeneous agents. Highly integrated parallel work streams are elucidated with sub-process elicitation in simulation, system integration and software engineering, composition, and performance. Framework formalization draws upon the established RAD model with significant modification to present the extended version that can be multi-threaded for concurrent creative processes. Two landmarks of 20th century music automation are drawn diachronically to frame the technical discussion in a social context of listening practice, developed by modeling creative process and testing musical assumptions. Revisited cannon is redirected from bygone exemplars to ongoing practice, illuminating three baseline requirements for a methodological framework: interdisciplinary platform architecture, complex systems model of music creation, and agile listening. Concluding theses on second order listening and interdisciplinary architecture summarize the proposed methodological framework addressing contextual listening and technical culture