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What might music sound like to a creature with approximately our intelligence, but not from Earth?  At first glance, one would simply guess “noise.”  However, if we assume this creature is visiting the Earth, we further might assume a certain degree of technology available, which would likely be a result of the alien specie’s ability to communicate.

An alternative question might shed light on our initial curiosity.  It is likely that this creature distinguishes between meaningless and meaningful auditory sensation, whether or not it does so accurately for human languages?  Furthermore, how might it distinguish between non-linguistic sonic organization (i.e. music) and non-musical noise?

Nonetheless, because we are human, we cannot possibly know what music would sound like to a non-human.  But we might be able to grasp a similarity in hearing noise rendered musically.

I will explain.  The ambient sounds of a busy subway station are analyzed by software (I created for this experiment).  In the process of digitizing, the computer determines the most influential frequencies present at each moment.  Those frequencies are then ideally tuned (by Western music standards) and performed by a virtual ensemble (2 flutes, 2 clarinets, guitar, 2 pianos, 2 2 cellos) within the computer.

What the listener experiences, allows one to somewhat sympathize with what the alien might hear.


bio: judsoN makes Behavioral Art, programming computers in order to study cognition.  His software experiments/artwork, papers, music and performances have been featured extensively around the world since 1996 (circus tents in Europe, the Smithsonian International Art Gallery, the Brooklyn Museum of Art with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the 809 International Art District in China, the Journal of Science and Technology of the Arts… ).  He graduated from Brown University and has an MA from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University.
portfolio: pump.org.in