Paper detail

Quantum Computer: Hello, Music!

Quantum computing is emerging as a promising technology, which is built on the principles of subatomic physics. By the time of writing, fully fledged practical quantum computers are not widely available. But research and development are advancing rapidly. Various software simulators are already available. And a few companies have already started to provide access to quantum hardware via the cloud. These initiatives have enabled experiments with quantum computing to tackle some realistic problems in science; e.g., in chemistry and cryptography. In spite of continuing progress in developing increasingly more sophisticated hardware and software, research in quantum computing has been focusing primarily on developing scientific applications. Up till now there has been virtually no research activity aimed at widening the range of applications of this technology beyond science and engineering. In particular applications for the entertainment industry and creative economies. This article introduces a new field of research, which is referred to as Quantum Computer Music. This research is aimed at the development of quantum computing tools and approaches to creating, performing, listening to and distributing music. The article begins with a brief historical background. Then, it introduces the notion of algorithmic music and presents two quantum computer music systems: a singing voice synthesiser and a musical sequencer based on quantum walk. A primer on quantum computing is also given. The chapter ends with a concluding discussion and advice for further work to develop this new exciting area of research.