The software sonata

12:40pm Monday 6th October 2008

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The clicks, clacks, taps, whirr, buzzes and humming of a humble PC have been fashioned into a musical soundscape by a Swindon composer.

George Dennis, from Fairview, in the town centre, created his piece as a homage to world-renowned mathematician Alan Turing.

The 23-year-old University of Manchester masters student recorded the sounds made by computers – including CD drives, computer fans and keyboards – and transformed them into entirely new sounds using specialist software.

His piece, which took five weeks to complete, is called Electric Sheep. It is named after the novel by science fiction writer Philip K Dick, who wrote Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? which was later made into Hollywood movie Blade Runner.

Artificial intelligence was a great interest of mathematician Alan Turing, who arrived at Manchester University 60 years ago last week.

"I'm a classical violinist but have put that to one side for the time being to concentrate on electroacoustic music,” said George.

“The piece gives you a sense of being on a musical journey, which is a little frightening and scary.

“I think Turing's achievements are of huge importance to the world, and especially the University of Manchester, where he came 60 years ago almost to the day.

“His interest in artificial intelligence partly inspired my piece but it’s also a way of saying thanks to the man whose ideas made so many things possible."

Professor Peter Duck, the head of School of Mathematics at The University of Manchester, said: “Alan Turing was an original thinker and his contribution to mathematics provides a lasting legacy with numerous applications in modern computing.”

The Novars Research Centre brings composers and musicians into contact with cutting edge technology.

Some of the world's leading exponents of electroacoustic music, who are based at the university, use the cutting edge equipment at the music studios within the centre.

George, who is hoping for a career as a freelance composer, said: “The technology available to me at Novars allows me to change and alter all types of sounds.”

George’s piece won a prize at a music festival in Portugal. He will now have the five-minute composition put on a CD and be commercially distributed abroad.