Opening of the 7th New York China Contemporary Music Festival: AI Makes Its Debut

On October 12, the 7th New York Chinese Contemporary Music Festival opened at Carnegie Hall. This year's festival uniquely incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with the theme "Composing the Future" to explore the role of AI in music creation. In line with the festival's focus on the future, the Central Conservatory of Music presented AI-composed pieces, including "Overture: Welcome" and "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains," during the opening concert.

A highlight of the evening was the collaboration between guzheng performer Xia Jing and AI during the performance of Sun Yuming's composition "A Night of Scattered Stars." This innovative collaboration achieved complex maneuvers that are typically challenging in traditional performances.

The concert also featured works by prominent composers, including "Orchestral Performance of Ling Lun" by Professor Qin Wencheng and "Gardening" by Yao Chen. Other notable performances included the choral piece "We," composed by Li Xiaobing, as well as "Hundred-Headed Beast" by composer Du Yun and "Tenth Symphony: Jing·Ju" by composer and pianist Gong Tianpeng.

Cai Jindong, the artistic director of the festival, emphasized that many composers are currently exploring the rapid advancements in AI technology. He stated that even with AI introducing new modes of musical expression, the essence of music creation must remain rooted in human creativity and imagination.

The festival will run until October 19, culminating in a concert that blends Eastern and Western musical traditions. The final performance will feature the concert version of the sci-fi opera "Seven Days," composed by Hao Wei and penned by Wang Yuanfei. Unlike the opening concert's embrace of AI, "Seven Days" tells the story of an artist grappling with the intrusion of AI into their life, prompting deeper reflections and discussions about reality.