Campobasso, October 13, 2026
Lorenzo Perosi Conservatory of Music in Campobasso, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Masterclass by Mauro Cardi
“From Algorithmic Composition to Artificial Intelligence”
A brief overview of how AI is changing composers’ work, with examples and live performances.

Music by Bach, Cardi, Donatoni

Mauro Cardi
pTq, for piano and toypiano
Anna Bellagamba, piano and toypiano

During the masterclass, after a brief chronology of the historical antecedents and progressive milestones that have marked the history of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we will focus on algorithmic composition, with listening and even live performances of some historic works from various periods and composers (Bach, Mozart, Donatoni, Brian Eno), which can be considered fully part of a compositional thought that anticipates AI in music. We will then examine in more depth some of the methodologies and resulting algorithms used for AI training (such as machine learning or neural networks). Particular attention will be paid to generative AI, with reference to musical applications, also comparing, in a sort of musical Turing test, performances of authorial pieces alongside those generated by an AI. Finally, we will discuss the role of AI in supporting creativity, beyond the simple production of “styled” music, which can truly fulfill such a resource in the hands of a composer today.
(MC)