by Christopher Dobrian & Omar Costa Hamido
Abstract. Quantum computing can be employed in computer-aided algorithmic music composition to control various attributes of the music at different structural levels. This article describes the application of quantum computing concepts in four areas of composition: rhythm, timbre, harmony, and spatialization. Quantum simulation is used in each of these four musical domains: to model compositional decision making in the ornamentation and syncopation of rhythmic patterns, to produce noise-based timbres with quantum particle tracking, to cause changing probabilistic behaviors in granular harmonic textures with the use of basis state vector rotation, and to cause noisy perturbations of spatial soundpaths by exploiting quantum measurement error. We describe the concepts fundamental to each of these techniques, we provide algorithms and software enacting them, and we provide examples demonstrating their implementation in computer-generated music.
Cite :
Dobrian, C., Hamido, O.C. (2026). Techniques for Quantum-Computing-Aided Algorithmic Composition: Experiments in Rhythm, Timbre, Harmony, and Space. In: European Physical Journal, Special Topics (EPJ-ST) Quantum Computing and Musical Creativity: Exploring new Intersections. In Review.
Preprint: [arXiv]
