Tabla Gyan: An Artificial Tabla Improviser

We describe Tabla Gyan, a system capable of improvising tabla solo music, a sophisticated percussion tradition from North India. The system is based on a generative model of the qaida, a central form in tabla solo based on thematic variation. The system uses a recombinative process of variation generation, and filters the results according to rhythmic and timbral characteristics of each phrase. The sequences are used to generate audio in realtime using pre-recorded tabla samples. An evaluation of the system was conducted with seventy users, primarily experienced tabla performer and listeners. With respect to qualities such as musicality, novelty, adherence to stylistic norms, and technical ability, the computer-generated performances compared favorably with performances by a world-class tabla player.