Volunteers were brought in to rate the tunes: those not liked were thrown out, while those that hit the right note were allowed to breed to create a new generation of songs.
At first the melodies sounded like a bad jam session but, after a few hundred generations, they started to strike a chord. While no 'Bravos' were heard, the tunes improved quickly from their discordant beginnings.
With bigger, faster computers and millions of people's ratings, will this elevator music evolve into masterpieces?
Professor Leroi sings the praises of this new idea: "Would it be Mozart? No, I don't think so. It would have no composer behind it, it wouldn't be the act of any individual musical genius, it would just be the people's music in its purest form."
One thing is for sure: Professor Leroi's grand vision for the future of the Darwinian music machine won't be music to the ears of composers and musicians.
Quiz 測驗 1. What has Dr Bob MacCallum been working on?
A computer programme called Darwin Tunes that creates music from noise.
2. What does the project have in common with Darwin's theory of evolution?
Just like in nature, sounds evolve with every new generation: the weakest are thrown out while the best, strongest, tunes reproduce to create a new generation of songs.
3. Which word in the article is used as an expression of appreciation at the end of a performance?
Bravo.
4. True, false or not given: many people listen to Darwin Tunes in the elevator.
Not given. The article calls these songs 'elevator music', which means this music is not very exciting.
5. What expression in the article refers to musicians improvising music together?
A jam session.
Glossary 词汇表 composer作曲家 Darwinian進化論的 loop循環，指音樂裏的循環段落 to rate評價 tune曲調 to hit the right note找到正確的音符，比喻做對了事情 melody旋律 jam session即興演奏 to strike a chord達成一個和弦 bravo好，觀眾叫好 discordant不和諧的 rating評分 elevator music公共場所經常播放的乏味的音樂 masterpiece傑作，大師級作品 to sing the praises of讚頌，歌頌 musical genius音樂天才 to be music to the ears悅耳的音樂，比喻好消息
