An orchestra in Dresden, Germany, recently performed under the guidance of a robot conductor with three arms. Why? Because a robot with four arms would just be ridiculous.
The robot, named MAiRA Pro S, is able to keep different time signatures simultaneously with different arms, thus conducting complex music that a human could not handle. Because we all know that when it comes to music, the more complicated and intellectual, the better.
The robot has just three arms, because any more would have been freaky-looking. (dresdnersinfoniker/Instagram)
“All of the great composers and songwriters have always said that it’s not about how enjoyable the music is to listen to, but how difficult it is to play,” said one of the directors. “So we’re just trying to continue in that tradition.”
“I enjoyed the performance, but I’m a little concerned,” said a local woman. “I mean, we’ve all seen science fiction movies – it starts with obeying robot conductors, and ends with humans being harvested as batteries for the machines. On the other hand, it’s a small price to pay for listening to multi-tempo music that gives me kind of a headache.”
"Once more, with feeling. By the way, what is feeling?" (tactileinternet and dresdnersinfoniker/Instagram)
Another audience member said afterwards that he was skeptical of robot conductors. “As Jeff Goldblum, playing in ‘Jurassic Park’ the lovable lech Dr. Ian Malcolm, said, ‘Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.'” He added, “I use that quote almost every day in conversations, and it’s nice to finally use it in a situation where it makes sense.”
