Dr Michael Young

Dr Michael Young is currently a member of the Senior Management Team and Pro-Warden (Students and Learning Development) at Goldsmiths, University of London. He was formerly Head of the Department of Music. His research interests include computational creativity, interactive media and generative music. He is co-founder of the Live Algorithms for Music network, which investigates autonomous computer music systems for live performance.

He studied at the Universities of Oxford and Durham, completing a PhD in Composition in 1995.

Further information: www.michaelyoung.info

Areas of supervision

Current PhD Students

Rob Canning: Acoustic Composition, Interactive Performance, Open Forms

Chris Halliwell: Studio Composition

Ryo Ikeshiro: Studio Composition, Generative Music, Installation

I-Chin Li: Studio Composition, Improvisation

Claire Singer: Studio Composition, Interactive Music, Live Electronics

Stephen Wilkinson: Studio Composition

Alistair Zaldua: Composition and Live Electronics

Research interests

His work for interactive systems includes Argrophylax (2006) and ebbs– (2007); score-based compositions in which real-time interpretation influences computer events. The _prosthesis series (2007–present) are improvisation systems in which a solo player interacts with a quasi-autonomous computer improviser: there are currently versions for flute (for Anne Le Berge and Jos Zwaanenburg), oboe (for Chris Redgate), clarinet (for Brigid Burke), cello and piano.

He is also interested in visual and collaborative work. Two collaboration audiovisual installations/exhibits have been shown as part of National Science and Engineering Week, with support from the Research Councils UK: Groundbreaking (2007) and Exposure (2008/10) and are described in a recent edition of Leonardo. The photo/soundscape exhibition New World Circus is the most recent of collaboration with artist John Goto, and has recently completed a UK Arts Council tour.

Compositions

Performance interaction

piano_prosthesis, oboe_prosthesis, flute_prosthesis, au(or)a for soloist and computer improviser. Selected performances: Center for New Music and Audio Technology, Berkeley, Digital Resources for the Arts and Humanities Conference 2007, International Computer Music Conferences 2007 & 2008, BMIC Cutting Edge Concerts 2008 & 2009, Central Washington U, Adephi U, International Double Reed Soc. Conference 2009.

ebbs- for violin, cello and interactive electronics.
 Performed by Stefani Prenn, Marlene Weston, Ors Közeghi. Bachzaal, Amsterdam  2006, Week van de Hedendaagse Kamermuziek, Nieuwe Muziekgebouw aan't IJ, Amsterdam 2006.

Argrophylax for amplified oboe and live electronics. Chris Redgate (oboe); BMIC Cutting Edge concert series, The Warehouse, 2004.
 RADAR 4, XX1 Festival de México, Mexico City. Centro Educativo Y Cultural, Queretaro, México, 2005. 
Royal Academy of Music; Kingston University; LAM Conference 2005.
 CD Oboe+: Berio and Beyond.  Oboe Classics CC2015, 2006.

Chatterbox (15 min.) Amplified flute and live electronics. Jos Zwaanenburg, flute. Forthcoming CD: Twenty Odd Years (2010). Performances 1999-present: SEA 03 Scarborough Electroaoustics; Rotterdam Music Biennial; Stedelijk Museum  Amsterdam (Gaudeamus event); Oxford Contemporary Music Festival; Internationale Studienwoche für zeitgenössisch Musik, Lüneburg, Germany.

Collaborative

Groundbreaking: Past Landscapes in Grains and Pulses and Exposure: Living in Extreme Environments, Generative real-time installations and exhibitions. For National Science and Engineering Week, 2007-10. With support from the Research Councils UK. Tolbooth Gallery, Stirling, Sensation Centre, Dundee, National Museum of Scotland.  E-v-e-n-t 3 Festival, Prague. www.ground-breaking.net

Soundscape for John Goto’s New World Circus.  Surround sound DVD 5.1 audio, 30 minutes. Seven installations 2006-7; inc. Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate; Focal Point Gallery, Southend on Sea; Ovada Gallery, Oxford; Rugby Art Gallery and Museum; Stephen Lawrence Gallery, Greenwich.

Loss of Face. Electroacoustic series of works for a collaborative exhibition with photographic artist John Goto.  Selected music presented at the EuCuE Series XXII (Électroacoustiques université Concordia university Electroacoustics), Montreal, 2004. Exhibition shown at the Norwich Gallery; Wolsey Art Gallery, Ipswich; Hartlepool Art Gallery. 2002. CD and catalogue (ISBN 1 872482597/Cat.No. NZKH104).

Capital Arcade. Computer generated soundscape for an exhibition by John Goto.
Exhibitions 1999-2001: Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth; Andrew Mummery Gallery, London; Howard Gardens, Cardiff; Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry; the Hasselblad Centre, Stockholm.

Instrumental

Less is More, JH4. Flat Five Records. GBH CD06. Commissioned by Direction des Affaires Culturelles, Antibes, for exhibition by Richard Long. Performances 1999- (Young as pianist) include Chantier Naval Opéra, Antibes; Jazz à Vienne Festival; Soho Jazz Festival.

tournent dans l’air du soir... for violin duo, performed by Clio Gould and Joan Atherton. SPNM/London Sinfonietta ‘State of the Nation’ concert QEH, 1998.

Oread for SATB, string orchestra, harp & percussion, performed by Lloyd’s Choir & Isis Ensemble. Commissioned by the 
National Federation of Music Societies. London, 1996.

Train of Thought for large mixed ensemble, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra players. BBC Young Composers’ Forum concert, RCM, 1995. Selected by SPNM.

She tells her love while half asleep for soprano, alto flute, viola, cello & harp. Performed by Ensemble Alternance & Sharon Cooper at the Huddersfield International Contemporary Music Festival, 1992. BBC Radio 3. Selected by SPNM.

The Red Shoes - an imaginary ballet for large mixed ensemble. Performed by Music Projects UK at Musica Nova International Festival, Glasgow, 1990. Selected by SPNM.

String Quartet performed by Kreutzer Quartet at the Lüdwig Maximilians Universität, Munich; Bergano, Italy, 1994. Selected by SPNM.

Selected publications

Young, M. (2010) ‘Identity and Intimacy in Human-Computer Improvisation’. Online supplement to Leonardo Music Journal 20.

Young, M. and Bown, O. (2010) 'Clap-along: A Negotiation Strategy for Creative Interaction with Computational Systems.' Proc. of the 1st International Conference on Computational Creativity, Lisbon.

Young, M. (2009) 'Creative Computers, Improvisation and Intimacy'. In Boden, M et al (Ed.s) Dagstuhl Seminar Proceedings 09291 Computational Creativity: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

Adderley, W.P. and Young, M. (2009) Ground-Breaking: Scientific and sonic perceptions of environmental change in the African Sahel. Leonardo. 42/5 401-411.

Young, M. (2008) NN Music: Improvising with a ‘Living’ Computer. In Kronland-Martinet, R. et al (Eds) Computer Music Modelling and Retrieval: Sense of Sounds. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 4969. Springer-Verlag. 337-350.

Young, M. (2007) ‘Au(or)a: Attributes of a Live Algorithm’.  Electroacoustic Music Studies Conference, Leicester.

Adderley, W. P. & Young M.(2007)  Here is now and there is the sound of the land: scientific and sonic perceptions of the African Sahel. MutaMorphosis: Challenging Arts and Sciences. International Conference, Prague.

Blackwell, T. and Young, M. (2004) Self-Organised Music. Organised Sound 9:2 123-136.

Blackwell, T. and Young, M. (2004) Swarm Granulator. In G. R. Raidl et al (Eds): EvoWorkshops 2004, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 3005, 399-408. (Best Paper Award at the Evomusart Workshop 2004, Coimbra, Portugal).

Young, M. and Lexer, S. (2003) FFT analysis as a creative tool in live performance. In Davies, M. (Ed): Proc. of the 6th International Conference on Digital Audio Effects. 65-69.