Quantum Music

Trit: 0 (ERGODIC - bridging classical and quantum) Field: Quantum Computer Music Reference: Miranda (2022) "Quantum Computer Music" Springer

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Overview

Quantum Music encompasses:

1. Composition: Using quantum algorithms/circuits
2. Notation: ZX-calculus augmented scores
3. Instruments: Quantum Guitar, Q1Synth, Actias
4. Performance: Live quantum state manipulation

History

Year	Milestone
2022	First quantum-composed music (Ludovico Quanthoven)
2022	Miranda's "Quantum Computer Music" book
2023	Q1Synth (Miranda, Thomas, Itaboraí)
2024	Quantum Guitar debuts (Edinburgh)
2024	Black Tish at Wacken with quantum
2025	"Bell" composition (ZX notation)

Compositional Approaches

1. Quantum Random (QRandom)

from qiskit import QuantumCircuit, execute, Aer

def quantum_melody(n_notes, n_pitches=12):
    """Generate melody via quantum measurement."""
    qc = QuantumCircuit(4, 4)
    qc.h(range(4))  # Superposition
    qc.measure(range(4), range(4))
    
    backend = Aer.get_backend('qasm_simulator')
    result = execute(qc, backend, shots=n_notes).result()
    
    melody = []
    for bitstring, count in result.get_counts().items():
        pitch = int(bitstring, 2) % n_pitches
        melody.extend([pitch] * count)
    
    return melody

2. Quantum Walk Composition

def quantum_walk_melody(graph, steps):
    """Melody from quantum walk on graph."""
    from discopy.quantum import qubit, H, CNOT
    
    # Initialize walker in superposition
    walker = uniform_superposition(len(graph.nodes))
    
    for _ in range(steps):
        # Coin flip
        walker = apply_coin(walker)
        # Shift
        walker = apply_shift(walker, graph)
    
    # Measure to get note sequence
    return measure_melody(walker)

3. Grover Search for Harmony

def find_chord(target_quality='major'):
    """Use Grover to find chord voicing."""
    # Oracle marks good voicings
    oracle = chord_quality_oracle(target_quality)
    
    # Grover iterations
    circuit = grover_circuit(oracle, n_qubits=12)
    
    # Measure result
    return measure_chord(circuit)

ZX-Calculus Notation

"Bell" by Abdyssagin & Coecke uses ZX as score:

  Quantum Guitar          Grand Piano
       │                      │
    ┌──┴──┐                ┌──┴──┐
    │  X  │                │  Z  │
    └──┬──┘                └──┬──┘
       │                      │
       └──────────────────────┘
              Bell pair
              
  Measurement collapses entanglement
  → Correlated musical phrases

Instruments

Instrument	Creator	Mechanism
Q1Synth	Miranda et al.	Software qubit synth
Actias	Moth	Web-based, MIDI control
Quantum Guitar	Coecke	Physical + Actias
Quantum Piano	Abdyssagin	Mental model + notation

Genre Applications

Industrial/Metal

• Black Tish: Full album with Quantum Guitar
• NIN-style experimentation
• Wacken performances

Classical/Contemporary

• Cathedral Organ + Quantum Guitar
• "Quantum Universe" Symphony
• Chamber music with ZX notation

Electronic

• EDM descendants of industrial
• Quantum random for generative

DisCoPy for Composition

from discopy import Ty, Box, Diagram
from discopy.quantum import qubit, Ket, Bra, H, CX

# Musical types
note = Ty('note')
chord = Ty('chord')

# Quantum composition as diagram
def compose_phrase():
    # Prepare Bell state
    bell = Ket(0, 0) >> (H @ Id(1)) >> CX
    
    # Map to musical space
    to_music = Box('sonify', qubit @ qubit, note @ note)
    
    return bell >> to_music

Live Performance Protocol

quantum_music_performance:
  setup:
    - Actias on dedicated laptop
    - MIDI routing configured
    - Bloch sphere projection
  
  soundcheck:
    - Test foot controllers
    - Verify measurement response
    - Classical/quantum blend levels
  
  performance:
    - Smooth classical→quantum transitions
    - Real-time qubit manipulation
    - Measured moments for phrase endings

GF(3) Conservation in Music

Section	Trit	Character
Intro (classical)	-1	Grounded
Development (quantum)	0	Superposed
Resolution (measured)	+1	Collapsed

Σ = 0: Complete musical arc conserves

References

1. Miranda, E.R. (2022). Quantum Computer Music. Springer
2. Coecke, B. (2025). A Quantum Guitar. arXiv:2509.04526
3. Abdyssagin & Coecke (2025). Bell composition
4. Miranda et al. (2023). Q1Synth. Applied Sciences

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Skill Name: quantum-music Type: Composition / Performance Trit: 0 (ERGODIC)

Non-Backtracking Geodesic Qualification

Condition: μ(n) ≠ 0 (Möbius squarefree)

This skill is qualified for non-backtracking geodesic traversal.