The other part of the test
Continuing on with our tests of chatbots for writing program notes (see earlier installments here and here), I’d earlier asked ChatGPT to generate some notes for the Mozart “Haffner” symphony. The results were disappointing, primarily because the bot just made up a lot of shit, stuff that even basic fact checking by your music history prof would have earned you a “D”.
So I’m happy to report that while Bing Chat’s results were a much shorter text, at least it was true.
I’ll jump right in…
Can you write program notes for
Mozart’s “Haffner” Symphony?
Sure! Here are some program notes for Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 “Haffner” that I found:
Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 was composed in 1782 and is also known as the “Haffner” Symphony. It was commissioned by Sigmund Haffner, a wealthy Salzburg merchant and burgomeister. The symphony is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings.
Would you like more information on this topic?
So far so good. There were a bunch of footnotes included, to these legitimate sources:
Learn more:
- baroque.boston
- redlandssymphony.com
- wssymphony.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- wichitasymphony.org
- arkansassymphony.org
- +3 more
I didn’t save the links, but you get the idea. Yes, Wikipedia isn’t adequate for a school research paper, but that’s not what this is.
So I continue. I’ll ask for something that ChatGPT gave right off as part of its understanding of how program notes are structured.
How about a movement by movement
description or analysis of the symphony?
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find a detailed movement by movement analysis of the symphony. However, I did find that the first movement of the “Haffner” Symphony is described as exploding with a joyful sense of celebration and liberation, with a single idea being relentlessly developed throughout the opening movement.
Would you like me to search for more information on this topic?
However I would quibble about the “single idea being relentlessly developed.” The movement is after all a classic sonata-allegro form, and while the octave-skip motif is played out a lot of different ways there is indeed a contrasting second theme in the dominant. But whatever.
And a couple of other resources for further information:
- thelistenersclub.com
- classiccat.net
I didn’t expect to get much more on the first movement, so I moved on to the finale.
What’s the form of the finale movement?
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find specific information on the form of the finale movement of Mozart’s “Haffner” Symphony. Would you like me to search for more information on this topic?
This was a little disappointing, because at least two of the footnotes clearly state that it’s in sonata-allegro form. It also couldn’t tell me anything about the slow movement.
Tell me more about Mozart’s life.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27th, 1756 in Salzburg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. He showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood and was already competent on keyboard and violin. He composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty. His father Leopold took him on a grand tour of Europe and then three trips to Italy.
Mozart lived at the center of Viennese musical life and knew a great number of people including fellow musicians, theatrical performers, fellow transplanted Salzburgers, many aristocrats including a fairly close acquaintance with Emperor Joseph II.
And then a few good suggestions for follow-up questions, as I hit my 10-question limit.
Tell me about Mozart’s family.
Tell me about Mozart’s travels.
Tell me about Mozart’s compositions.
So what do we have?
We don’t have something we can just copy-and-paste into InDesign and send off to the printers; but that would be lazy — seriously — and it’s the last thing you’d want to do.
But what we do have is a good and accurate framework for developing the rest of the article. Based on what I already know, I can add a few details, flesh out the specifics of the middle movements, do a final proofread and then release it.
Here’s a thought: maybe what it does best is give me the beginning, which is always the hardest part for me to write. How do I start it? Then use the rest as scaffolding, adding what you already know to make it yours.