Google Celebrates J.S. Bach

Since this is a classical music blog, I would be remiss not to highlight today’s Google Doodle, which celebrates the 334th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. In this interactive experience, you begin by creating a short, two-bar melody. Then, AI software—which has “analyzed” hundreds of Bach’s chorales—will generate an original, Bach-style harmonization around your tune. The results are a bit hit or miss, but some sound surprisingly good. Overall, it’s a fun little diversion that shows the far-reaching effects of Bach’s music as well as the possibilities (and limitations) of AI technology.

Check out the short video below to learn more about the creation of the Doodle, and try your hand at the experience here. (Also be on the lookout for some fun Easter eggs in the Doodle. Hint: one involves 80s-style rock…)