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:
(arpeggio(transpose(transpose(transpose(((transpose((transpose(shuffle(((X+transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ,-7) +(echo(arpeggio(((((X|X) +X) +shuffle(X) ) |transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) ) ,4,6) |shuffle(arpeggio(X) ) ) ) ,-5) +transpose(((transpose(step(echo((X|X) ,4,6) ,12) ,4) |arpeggio(((echo((step(shuffle(X) ,12) |step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ) ,4,6) +transpose(shuffle(transpose((X|X) ,4) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(step(step(transpose(X,4) ,12) ,12) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) |(echo(X,4,6) |(((transpose(X,4) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,12) ) +transpose(((X+transpose((X+X) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,7) ) ) ) |step((transpose(arpeggio(echo(X,4,6) ) ,-5) +((transpose(transpose((X|X) ,4) ,-5) |transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +arpeggio(transpose((shuffle(X) +(transpose(X,-7) +echo(X,4,6) ) ) ,-5) ) ) ) ,12) ) ,-5) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((shuffle(((echo((X|(X|X) ) ,4,6) +transpose(((transpose(X,-7) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) |(((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +X) +transpose(echo(step((X|X) ,12) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,-5) ,4,6) ,7) ) ) +((transpose(((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) +((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) ) |X) ,-7) +transpose((transpose((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,-7) |transpose(arpeggio(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ) ,4) ) ,4) ) +transpose(echo((arpeggio(shuffle(step(X,12) ) ) +(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ,12) ) ) ,4,6) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ,4) ,4) ,-7) ) |(transpose(((transpose((((transpose((((((X|X) |step((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ) |transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-7) ,7) ) |((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) |echo(shuffle((X+X) ) ,4,6) ) ) ,-5) +transpose(arpeggio(transpose((transpose((shuffle(X) +transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(X) ,-7) ,12) ) ,-7) ) ,12) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) +transpose((transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-7) ,-5) +arpeggio((shuffle(transpose(X,4) ) +((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,12) ) +transpose((X|(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) ) ) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) |((((shuffle((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,12) ) ) +step(transpose(X,4) ,12) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-7) +transpose((((X|X) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,-7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(transpose(X,4) ) ,7) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ,-5) |(transpose(step(echo(X,4,6) ,12) ,-5) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ) ,4) ) ) ,-5) +transpose(transpose((arpeggio((((step(step(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ,12) +transpose(transpose((arpeggio(X) |transpose(X,-5) ) ,-7) ,12) ) +transpose(arpeggio((transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-5) |(transpose(X,-7) +(X+X) ) ) ) ,12) ) |((((X+X) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(transpose(((X|transpose(X,-7) ) +transpose(X,-5) ) ,-7) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose(X,-7) +(step(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) |transpose(X,-7) ) ) ,-5) ,4) ) ) ) |transpose(transpose(arpeggio((X+X) ) ,4) ,-7) ) ,-7) ,7) ) +transpose((transpose(((((transpose(arpeggio(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-7) ) ,-5) |transpose(transpose(step(transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,4) ,12) ,4) ,4) ) +(transpose(((X+transpose(X,7) ) |X) ,4) |(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ) ) ) +transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose((transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose((X+((X+X) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((echo(((transpose((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) |(shuffle(X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) +transpose((shuffle(arpeggio(X) ) +step((X|(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,4,6) +transpose((transpose(echo((transpose((X|X) ,4) +((X+transpose(X,12) ) |shuffle(X) ) ) ,4,6) ,-7) +transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,-5) ,-5) ,4) ,-7) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,4) +transpose(step(transpose(arpeggio(transpose(transpose(shuffle((X+X) ) ,-5) ,4) ) ,-7) ,12) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,-5) +transpose((((arpeggio((transpose(((transpose(((((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(X|X) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) |echo(X,4,6) ) +transpose(transpose(((X+(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,-5) +transpose((((arpeggio(X) +transpose((X+transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((transpose((X+X) ,-7) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(step((X+X) ,12) ,7) ) ,7) ) |(X+X) ) ,7) ) +(echo((shuffle(((X+X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ) |arpeggio((X|X) ) ) ,4,6) |(transpose(((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,12) ) |step(X,12) ) ,4) |(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) |transpose(X,-5) ) ) ) ) ,-5) +((transpose(transpose(transpose(((((step(X,12) +transpose((X+(X|X) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) +(((X+transpose(X,-7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ,4) ,-5) +transpose((step(shuffle((transpose(((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,-7) ,4,6) ,7) ) ,4) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,7) ) ) ,12) |(arpeggio(arpeggio(((transpose((X|X) ,-7) +(transpose(X,4) |arpeggio(X) ) ) +transpose(((((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) |(((X|X) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ) +transpose(((X+X) |(X+step(X,12) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,4) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ) ) +transpose(step(step((arpeggio(X) +transpose(((X+transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose((((X+X) +transpose((((X|X) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(X) ,-7) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ) ,12) ,12) ,12) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose(transpose(transpose(step((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ,-5) ,-7) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(echo((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) ,4,6) ,4) ,7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ) +transpose((echo((((((((((X+X) +(transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |X) ,4) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X+X) ,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ,-7) ) ) +transpose((transpose(shuffle(transpose(transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ) ,4) ,-5) ) ,-5) +transpose(((X+X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,4) ) ,7) ) +transpose((((transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-7) |((X|X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ) +transpose(step((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) +echo(X,4,6) ) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose((((transpose((X|X) ,-7) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((transpose((X|X) ,-7) |transpose(X,4) ) ,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) +(((transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) +transpose((arpeggio(X) +transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(((X+X) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) |(step(X,12) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) |X) ,12) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((((echo((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ,4,6) |(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-7) +transpose((arpeggio((X+X) ) +step(X,12) ) ,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(((((X+transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(echo(transpose(X,-5) ,4,6) +X) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(step(echo((X|X) ,4,6) ,12) ,-5) ,-7) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose((transpose(shuffle(shuffle(X) ) ,-7) +transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,-5) ,-7) ,-7) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(((((X+X) +transpose(transpose((X|X) ,-5) ,-5) ) +(X+transpose((transpose(step(step(X,12) ,12) ,-7) |arpeggio((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +arpeggio(X) ) ) ) ,4) ) ) +transpose((((((echo(((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((transpose(X,4) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((arpeggio(X) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose(shuffle((X|X) ) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose((X+(echo(X,4,6) +transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-5) ) ,4) ,7) ) +transpose((((shuffle(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-7) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose((((X+X) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(step(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ,7) ) ,7) ) |arpeggio(shuffle(X) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |X) ,-7) ,-5) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ,-7) |(transpose((((step(transpose(X,4) ,12) |transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose((X+X) ,-5) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,4) +(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) +(echo(X,4,6) +(X|X) ) ) ,12) ) ,-5) +echo(transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) ,-7) ,4,6) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(((transpose(((X+X) |shuffle(arpeggio(X) ) ) ,4) +transpose((transpose((((X+transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) |(((X|X) +transpose((X+X) ,4) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,-7) +transpose((step((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,12) |echo(((X+transpose(X,7) ) |transpose(X,4) ) ,4,6) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(((X|X) +X) ,-5) |transpose((((X|(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,7) ) ,-7) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,4,6) |(((transpose(transpose(transpose(echo(((((transpose(X,4) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ,12) ) |(step(X,12) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ) +transpose((((X+X) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,12) ) +(shuffle(X) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) +((X|X) +transpose(X,12) ) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,-7) ,-5) ,-5) +transpose(echo(((((transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,7) ) ,4) |(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) |X) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,-5) ) |echo(step(transpose(transpose(transpose((X|X) ,-7) ,-5) ,-5) ,12) ,4,6) ) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(echo(echo((echo(step(echo(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4,6) ,12) ,4,6) +(((step(transpose(X,-5) ,12) |(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) |(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(echo((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4,6) ,4) ,-7) ,12) ) ) ,4,6) ,4,6) ,7) ) +((((echo(shuffle((arpeggio(X) +X) ) ,4,6) +transpose(((transpose(((X+X) +X) ,-5) +transpose(((X+X) +(((X+transpose(X,7) ) |transpose(X,-7) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ,12) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose((shuffle(step(echo(arpeggio(X) ,4,6) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(echo(arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ,4,6) ,-7) ,4) ,7) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(transpose((X|((X+transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ) ,4) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(((transpose(transpose((echo(X,4,6) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ) ,4) ,-7) +transpose((transpose((X|step(X,12) ) ,4) +((arpeggio(X) |X) |arpeggio(arpeggio(X) ) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(step(arpeggio((X|X) ) ,12) ,7) ) ,-5) ,-5) ,12) ) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(((transpose(arpeggio(step(step(((X+echo(echo(X,4,6) ,4,6) ) |((((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +echo(X,4,6) ) +transpose((arpeggio(X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,12) ,12) ) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(transpose(echo((((X+echo(X,4,6) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,-7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ,4) ) ,4,6) ,-5) ,4) ,7) ) +((transpose(echo(((echo((X+(step(X,12) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,12) ) ) ,4,6) |transpose(transpose((X|X) ,-5) ,-7) ) |(transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X+transpose(X,-5) ) ,-5) ) ) ,4,6) ,-7) +transpose((transpose(transpose(transpose((((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,-7) ,-5) +transpose((((shuffle(shuffle(transpose((X+X) ,-5) ) ) +transpose(transpose((((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) |transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-5) ) +transpose(arpeggio((X+X) ) ,4) ) ,-5) ,12) ) +step(transpose(transpose(((X|X) +transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose(((transpose(((((((X+transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(X|X) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose((X+X) ,4) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,7) ) ,-5) +transpose((((((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) +transpose(((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose(X,-7) |X) ,4) ,-7) ) +transpose((step(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,12) ) ,12) |(step(X,12) +(X+((X+X) +transpose((X+X) ,12) ) ) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(shuffle((echo(echo(X,4,6) ,4,6) +arpeggio(X) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose((X+X) ,12) ) ,4) ,-5) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(((step(transpose(X,-5) ,12) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,12) ) ,12) ) +echo(transpose(X,-5) ,4,6) ) ,4) ,-7) +((((((((((step(X,12) +((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) +transpose((X+(X+X) ) ,7) ) |echo(shuffle(X) ,4,6) ) +transpose((step(X,12) |X) ,4) ) +transpose(step((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,-5) ) ,12) ,7) ) |(transpose((echo(X,4,6) |(X|X) ) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ,12) ) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) +transpose((step(step(X,12) ,12) +transpose(X,-7) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(step(echo(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ,4,6) ,12) +transpose(step((transpose((X|X) ,-5) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,12) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose(arpeggio(echo(X,4,6) ) ,-5) ) |((X|transpose(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose((shuffle(X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ) ,-7) ,-5) +transpose((transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,4) ) ,4) +transpose(echo((transpose(X,4) +(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,4,6) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(step(((transpose(X,-7) +(X+transpose((X+X) ,12) ) ) +((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ) |arpeggio(shuffle(X) ) ) ) ,12) ,7) ) ,-7) ) ) ) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((step(transpose(transpose(transpose(step((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ,-7) ,4) ,-7) ,12) |transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(shuffle(((X+X) |(transpose(X,-5) |(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) ) ,-5) ,-5) ,4) ,-7) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) )
random seed used was 218561787

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