- Title: Cello-playing robot makes musical history
- Date: 23rd October 2024
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (OCTOBER 23, 2024)(REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE)(English) COMPOSER, JACOB MUHLRAD, SAYING (ABOUT DIFFERENCES WITH HAVING A ROBOT AS PART OF THE ORCHESTRA): “I don't think it's about, you know, being better or worse. I think, you know, it's a way to kind of explore the creative process. And since the robotic cello has another anatomic structure than the humans have, so then suddenly there are other ways to play the cello through this robotic, which for me as a composer, it's kind of liberating to go beyond the human anatomy when you think about what to write for a cello.”
- Embargoed: 6th November 2024 14:54
- Keywords: Malmo Live Concert Hall cello code robot symphony orchestra
- Location: MALMO AND STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- City: MALMO AND STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA004411823102024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A robot playing the cello has performed alongside a symphony orchestra, reportedly for the first time in music history.
Last week (October 17), the robot played at Malmo Live Concert Hall, in southern Sweden, alongside the Malmo Symphony Orchestra at the premiere of a new work specially written for the robot by Swedish composer Jacob Muhlrad.
The robot cello, combining industrial robotic arms with 3D-printed parts attached to it, was designed and developed by researcher and composer Fredrik Gran who programmed the robot using Muhlrad’s musical score.
Muhlrad, a composer known for blending classical music with modern influences, said it was interesting to see how his music score translated to code and then to the robotic cello, describing the experience as “liberating”.
“Suddenly there are other ways to play the cello through this robotic, which for me as a composer, it's kind of liberating to go beyond the human anatomy when you think about what to write for a cello,” he said.
Muhlrad clarified that the cello robot, while a refined piece of hardware, does not employ Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, incorporating AI is something they are considering for future projects.
Despite Muhlrad's excitement about the concert and the possibilities of robotic musicians, he doesn't believe robots will replace human musicians.
“I don't think it will ever replace live musicians. That's impossible, I think,” he said.
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