Home : Tune Toys : Expresso 
  Expresso takes a simple musical expression (literally "X") and mutates it. In each generation, transformations are applied to components of the expression. This is a fractal technique known as an L-system. The more generations there are, the larger and more complex the expression gets (and the longer it can take to compute). The output varies wildly, from boring to fascinating. Press "Mutate" a few times till you get something that looks interesting, then click on the image to play it. See Composer's Quarry for examples of output.

Transformations:
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After 20 generations the expression "X" became this:
(transpose(transpose((((transpose(transpose((transpose(arpeggio(transpose(arpeggio(step(X,12) ) ,4) ) ,4) |((transpose(transpose((echo(X,4,6) |(transpose(X,4) |((X+X) |X) ) ) ,-7) ,-7) +transpose(echo((step(X,12) |transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-7) ) ,4,6) ,7) ) +(((((X+X) +transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(echo((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |transpose(X,-7) ) ,4,6) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose(echo((echo((shuffle(shuffle(X) ) +(X|X) ) ,4,6) +transpose((transpose(transpose(shuffle(X) ,-5) ,-5) +transpose(((((X+X) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(echo((transpose(X,-5) |(echo(transpose(X,-7) ,4,6) +((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ) ) ,4,6) ,7) ) ) ) ,-5) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(echo(step(((transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-5) +(X+transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose((X+X) ,-5) ,4) +shuffle((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) ,-7) ) ,12) ,4,6) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose((transpose((X+X) ,-5) +transpose((shuffle(X) +(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,-7) +transpose(shuffle(transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,-5) ,-7) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,7) ) +transpose((arpeggio(shuffle(((step(X,12) +transpose((((transpose(echo((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,-7) +shuffle((transpose(shuffle(transpose(X,-5) ) ,-5) +transpose(transpose((X|((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ) ) +transpose((X|shuffle((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) ,-7) ) |transpose(transpose(((((((X+transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) ,-7) ,-7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((((arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) |arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) ) +transpose((shuffle(X) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,12) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose((transpose(X,4) |transpose(X,-7) ) ,-5) +transpose(arpeggio(arpeggio(transpose(X,-7) ) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,-7) ) ,7) ) ) ) +transpose(transpose(((transpose((transpose(transpose(echo(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,4,6) ,-7) ,4) |(shuffle(arpeggio(shuffle(transpose(X,-5) ) ) ) +transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-7) ,4) ) ) ,-7) +transpose(echo(shuffle((((transpose(step((X+X) ,12) ,-5) +transpose(step(shuffle(echo(X,4,6) ) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,-7) ,4,6) ,7) ) +(transpose((transpose(X,-5) +(X+X) ) ,4) +transpose((transpose(((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) +shuffle(X) ) ,12) ) ) ) ,4,6) ,7) ) +(transpose(arpeggio(shuffle(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-7) ) ) ,4) |((transpose((transpose(transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ,4) +transpose(((X+transpose((X|X) ,-7) ) |(((shuffle(X) +transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +X) ) ,7) ) ,-5) +transpose(((transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +(transpose(X,4) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(arpeggio((X|X) ) ) ,7) ) ) ) ,4) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,4) ,4) +(step((echo((((arpeggio(((transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) |transpose(X,-7) ) +step((transpose(arpeggio((X+X) ) ,4) +(X+transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ) ,12) ) ) |(transpose(shuffle(arpeggio(X) ) ,-7) +echo((step(echo(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4,6) ,12) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ) ,4,6) ) ) +transpose(step((step((transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,-5) ) ,-5) ,-7) |(arpeggio(transpose(step(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ,4) ) |(((X+transpose(X,7) ) |step(X,12) ) +transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ,12) ) ) ) ,12) +transpose((((((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((transpose((X+X) ,4) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) |transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) ,-5) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(((((transpose(X,4) +(X+X) ) +shuffle((X+X) ) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) ) +(((X|X) +X) +transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(step(X,12) ) ,-5) ,7) ) |((((echo((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,4,6) +transpose(((shuffle(X) +transpose((arpeggio(X) +echo(X,4,6) ) ,4) ) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) |((X|X) |((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |X) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ,-7) ,12) ) |(step(((echo((X|X) ,4,6) +arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-5) ,-5) ) ,12) +X) ) ) ,7) ) ,12) ,7) ) +((transpose(((step(X,12) +((transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) +transpose((transpose((step(X,12) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-7) ,7) ) ,4) +transpose(((((X+X) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ,7) ) +(((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(X+X) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-7) |(step((X+(X+X) ) ,12) |transpose((X+X) ,-7) ) ) ,7) ) ) +(((X+transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +echo(arpeggio(X) ,4,6) ) +((arpeggio(step((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) +echo(echo(shuffle(X) ,4,6) ,4,6) ) |(transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ) ) ) ) ,4) +(transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ,4) |(arpeggio(step((transpose(step(X,12) ,-7) +(echo(X,4,6) |X) ) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-7) ,-7) ) ) ) |transpose(((step(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-5) ,12) |transpose(shuffle(arpeggio(X) ) ,4) ) |transpose(echo(((shuffle((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(X,12) ) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(((X|X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,-5) ) ,4) ) ) ,4,6) +transpose(arpeggio(arpeggio(((((((X+transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ) +transpose((((transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +X) ,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,12) ) +transpose((arpeggio(X) +transpose(((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) |((echo(transpose(X,-5) ,4,6) |(transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ,4) +transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,12) ) ) +((transpose(transpose(transpose((X+X) ,-7) ,-5) ,4) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose((echo((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4,6) +transpose(shuffle(echo(X,4,6) ) ,4) ) ,7) ) ) ) +transpose(transpose(((step(transpose(transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ,4) ,12) +transpose((echo(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,4,6) |((echo(X,4,6) +(X+X) ) |transpose((X|X) ,-5) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose((step((X|X) ,12) |echo(arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,4,6) ) ,-7) |shuffle((transpose(step(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ,-7) |transpose(step(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ,4) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,-7) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose((((((transpose(((X+X) |((X+transpose(X,7) ) |((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ,-7) +transpose(((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,12) ) |transpose(transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) ,-7) ,-7) ) +transpose(((((X+transpose(X,7) ) |X) +transpose(((X|X) +transpose(X,4) ) ,12) ) |(X+X) ) ,12) ) +transpose((((transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ) ,4) ,7) ) +transpose(step((transpose(X,4) |arpeggio(transpose(X,-7) ) ) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(arpeggio(step(X,12) ) ,4) +(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) +arpeggio(((transpose(X,-7) |step(X,12) ) |((arpeggio(X) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,7) ) ) ) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose((((transpose(X,4) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) |(transpose((X+X) ,-5) +transpose(((shuffle(X) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) ) ,-7) +transpose(transpose((transpose((step(transpose(X,4) ,12) |X) ,-5) +transpose(transpose((transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-5) +transpose((X|echo(X,4,6) ) ,12) ) ,-7) ,7) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,7) ) ) ) ,12) ) ,12) |(step(transpose(transpose(((((arpeggio(X) |(X+X) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose((transpose(X,4) |X) ,4) ,4) ,12) ) +transpose((shuffle(((((shuffle(X) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) |echo(X,4,6) ) |arpeggio(X) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,4) ) ,4) ) +transpose((arpeggio(X) |((X+transpose(X,7) ) +(X|X) ) ) ,7) ) ) +((transpose(transpose(step(transpose(X,4) ,12) ,4) ,-7) |echo(X,4,6) ) +((((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) +transpose((X+X) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ,7) ) +transpose((((transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) |(transpose(X,-7) |arpeggio(X) ) ) +transpose(echo(echo(shuffle(X) ,4,6) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose((step(transpose(X,-5) ,12) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose((X|X) ,-5) ,12) ) ,7) ) ) ) ,4) ) ,-7) ,-7) ,12) |((((transpose(arpeggio((shuffle(transpose((transpose(X,-7) |(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,-5) ) +transpose((((arpeggio(((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,-7) ) ) |(((X+X) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(((X|X) +(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,7) ) ) +transpose(arpeggio(echo(X,4,6) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ,-7) ) ) ,-7) +transpose((transpose(transpose(step(transpose(step(arpeggio((transpose((X|X) ,-5) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) ) ,12) ,-5) ,12) ,4) ,4) +(transpose(transpose(echo(transpose((transpose(transpose(step((X+X) ,12) ,4) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ,7) ) ,4) ,4,6) ,-5) ,-7) +step((((transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) +echo((X|X) ,4,6) ) +transpose(((transpose((((X+X) |(transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,12) ) ) |(((X|X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) |(X|transpose(X,4) ) ) ) ,4) +transpose((((X+transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) |((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,12) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((echo(transpose(X,-7) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(echo(((X+(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) |(X|X) ) ,4,6) ,7) ) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(echo(transpose((transpose((shuffle(X) |X) ,-7) +transpose(shuffle(arpeggio(X) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,4,6) ,-7) ,-7) ,12) ) ,12) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(step(shuffle(((transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,4) ,-5) |transpose(((X+transpose(transpose(((X+X) +(X|X) ) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,-7) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +((transpose(transpose((((X|X) |X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,-7) +transpose((((shuffle(X) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-5) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ) ,12) ,-5) ,-5) ,7) ) +transpose((arpeggio((transpose(transpose(step(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ,4) ,-7) +transpose(transpose((((transpose(echo(((X+transpose(X,7) ) |X) ,4,6) ,4) |(step(transpose(X,4) ,12) +(X|((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ) +transpose((((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) +(transpose(X,4) +(X|(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) ) |transpose(transpose((X+X) ,-5) ,-5) ) ,12) ) +(transpose(shuffle((transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) +transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ,-7) +transpose(((echo(transpose(X,-5) ,4,6) +transpose(shuffle((X+X) ) ,-5) ) |(X+transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ) ,-7) ) ) ,-7) ,12) ) ) |(arpeggio(transpose((transpose((shuffle((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,4) ) ) |transpose((shuffle(X) |step(X,12) ) ,-5) ) ,-7) +echo((transpose(((((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X+X) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,4) ) ,12) ) ,-5) |transpose((((arpeggio(X) |(X+X) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ,12) ) +transpose(shuffle(transpose(X,4) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) ,4,6) ) ,-7) ) |transpose(transpose((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,-7) ,12) ) +transpose(arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,-5) ) ,-5) ,4) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((step(transpose((transpose(step(echo(step(arpeggio(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-7) ) ,12) ,4,6) ,12) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(transpose((shuffle(X) |transpose(X,-7) ) ,-7) ,-5) ,12) ) ,-5) ,12) +transpose((((transpose((arpeggio(step(transpose(transpose((echo(X,4,6) +transpose((X+X) ,12) ) ,-5) ,4) ,12) ) +transpose(shuffle((transpose(arpeggio(echo(X,4,6) ) ,-7) |shuffle(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ) ) ) ,-7) ) ,-5) |transpose(transpose((transpose(transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,12) ) ,-5) ,-5) +transpose(echo((X|X) ,4,6) ,4) ) ,-7) ,-5) ) +transpose((transpose(((transpose(((X|(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ) +(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-7) +(X|transpose(X,-5) ) ) ) ,-7) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio(shuffle(X) ) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle((((((transpose((X+X) ,4) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose(((X+X) |transpose(((X+transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) ,12) ) +shuffle((step((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) +transpose((X+X) ,-7) ) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,-5) +(((((step(X,12) +arpeggio((X+X) ) ) +transpose(echo(shuffle(transpose(X,4) ) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(shuffle((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,-7) ,-5) ,7) ) +transpose(step(transpose(shuffle(((echo((transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-7) |(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,4,6) +transpose(arpeggio((((X|X) +transpose(transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) |(((X+X) +transpose((X+X) ,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,-5) ) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ,4) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose((echo((transpose(X,4) +X) ,4,6) +((step(X,12) +transpose(((transpose(X,4) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ) ,4) ,4) +transpose(transpose((transpose((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) +echo(X,4,6) ) ,4) |transpose((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ,-5) ) ,-7) ,12) ) +(((transpose(X,-5) +(X|echo(X,4,6) ) ) |transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,4) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(transpose(X,-5) ) ,4) ,12) ) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(step(((step(transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ,-7) ,12) +transpose(((((X+(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(transpose((X|X) ,-5) |shuffle((X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ) ,7) ) +(transpose(((echo(echo(X,4,6) ,4,6) +transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-5) ) ,4) +(echo((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,4,6) +transpose((arpeggio((X+transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ) +step((X+shuffle(X) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ) ) ,12) ,-7) ,4) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ) )
random seed used was 146254388

The algorithm for Expresso is written in KeyKit, and here's the source code.