Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response

I find this outrageous and frightening. Music, like all the arts, is distinguished by its eminent humanity. Deprived of the human quality, it is nothing. Welcome to 1984.

Am I overreacting? Yes, perhaps. I will be truly aghast when all of the instruments are played by robots, and I will board a ship for Mars when they start just setting an mp3 player on stage (I might stick around for vinyl). Nonetheless, I am entirely opposed to any steps which move towards the mechanization of music. Let’s leave it at electric guitars – I don’t want to impinge on Chicago Blues, after all.

In closing, my point is this: Art is Analog.

Tags: Music, Technology

Trackback URI | Comments RSS