Live music-making: a rich open task requires a rich open interface

Is music-making rich and open? Rich, yes, as evident from the many varieties of emotional and social content that a listener can draw out of music, meaningful from many (although not all) perspectives (Cross and Tolbert 2008). Even unusually constrained music styles such as minimalism often convey rich signification, their sonic simplicity having a social meaning within wider musical culture. Music is particularly rich in its inner relationships, with musical themes passed between musicians both consciously and subconsciously, weaving a complex tapestry of influence. And open, yes: the generative/composable nature of musical units means a practically unbounded range of possible music performances. While musical genres place constraints on music-making, such constraints are often seen as points of departure, with artists celebrated for pushing boundaries and drawing a wide range of cultural and meta-musical references into their work. As a result, new musical genres spring up all the time.