Q&A with Classical Music’s AI Maestro

Using AI, AyseDeniz brings composers like Chopin "back to life"

In a new show called "Classical Regenerated," the Turkish pianist and composer AyseDeniz presents AI-generated piano compositions that were inspired by original works from well-known composers like Chopin and Mozart. She then plays portions of the original works, so people in the audience can understand how each piece is stylistically different.

She then has conversations with AI agents of the composers she’s trained, who also answer questions from the audience. Thanks to AyseDeniz, Chopin can talk at length about his first true love, among other subjects.

The show is her way of paying tribute to her favorite composers, and to get people excited about classical music by bringing the composers “back to life.”

I recently wrote a story about AyseDeniz for GRAMMY.com, but wanted to share additional excerpts from our conversation that didn’t make it into the story.

How exactly do you put together one of your AI-generated shows?

I use AI generative music tools to compose brand new works in the style of those classic works. The goal is to explore what makes someone like Chopin original and unique. It’s like analytical listening, so audiences can actively hear whats happening in the music and tell if something is on-brand or if its off.

I’m such a nerd. I was so excited about doing this work that I had to take time off from my regular composing and performing. I purchased articles and filtered them to train a GPT of Chopin. I had to generate so much music, and much of it was nonsensical. Eventually I figured out how to make something with structure and style.

What was it like to present your AI-generated Chopin in front of an audience for the first time?

At a private concert, I was able to get AI Chopin to talk about his pieces, what it was like living in his era, and what love was like for him. All of his responses were based on actual fact. Chopin participated in a panel discussion with us. It was intense and scary. People sent me messages afterward that they were having an existential crisis. After all that work I had to get back out into nature. You can start thinking that the object is alive.

Can we ask him something right now?

Yes, let’s ask him about his first love [she types in the question, and a text response pops up on her screen]. ‘In Warsaw, my heart first fluttered for a young lady. Everything was so simple and profound, like a nocturne. Love crescendos and then falls. I never saw her again, so I poured these emotions into my early work. Each time I touched the keys, I felt that first love.’

I trained him to have a French accent because his dad was French. He had a friendship with [Hungarian composer] Franz Liszt, so when I ask him about Liszt, he tells me that Liszt said his music was ‘like a canon hidden in flowers.’

Why exactly did you become interested in working on AI-generated music projects?

I don’t get asked to do session recordings, because they can just use a midi keyboard and layer sounds on the computer. It’s shocking to me and super unfair, but I can’t change the future or how technology develops, so the only way is to adapt. Even if you’re Taylor Swift, you can’t change these things. With AI, I wanted to jump into it, and have humans be present in the process.

You’ve been playing piano since a young age. How did music first enter into your life?

When my mom was pregnant with me, she went to see the film “Amadeus,” and whenever music played, she said I went nuts in her tummy. She had to leave the theater because she thought I was coming early. Growing up in Ankara, my mom took me to see live music, and we had big CD collection with lots of classical piano. But I also grew up with The Beatles and Pink Floyd, and musicals. We watched videos of Woodstock. I remember dancing to rock music with my dad. I started playing piano at 5.  My mom would call from work, and say ‘Play a piece for me,’ and would know where I made mistakes with my left hand. I was obsessive.

You’ve performed several times at Burning Man. No AI or computers, just you and a piano.

My friends persuaded me to go and found me a piano, so I just started playing Bach and they kept inviting me back. There’s a car that lights up when I play the piano. I love the community there, they care so much about art and are living in the moment. They’re so open-minded and nerdy. I grew up with so many rules. I was not allowed to play something for anyone unless I had passed it with an A in school. But there are no rules at Burning man. I’m getting too old for all that dust, though.

-Thanks for reading MUSIC NERD!