Compose like Bach with Google's first AI-powered Doodle

Bend it like Beckham, move like Jagger, now compose like Bach.

To remember the birthday of German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach, Google came up with its first AI-powered Doodle that allows users to compose a short melody that is then harmonized into Bach’s style.

Lucky users who find a special Easter egg within the Doodle can make an ’80s-style Bach-rock hybrid.

The Bach Doodle is a partnership of Google Magenta and Google PAIR teams. The model found on the Google home page was developed by Magenta Team AI Resident Anna Huang, who developed Coconet, described as “a versatile model that can be used in a wide range of musical tasks — such as harmonizing melodies or composing from scratch.”

“Coconet was trained on 306 of Bach’s chorale harmonizations. His chorales always have four voices, each carrying their own melodic line, while creating a rich harmonic progression when played together,” Google says.

And people love it.

@Google celebrating #JohannSebastianBach's birth anniversary with first ever #AI-powered #doodle is an absolute treat! I have been on it for an hour now ❤️ Please don't take it away.
#BachDoodle pic.twitter.com/eVr9udsvKk

— Shifali.Robinson (@ShifaliRobinson) March 22, 2019

I tried to throw the beginning notes of @BTS_twt FAKE LOVE into the #GoogleDoodle and got this #BachDoodle. pic.twitter.com/AMyW9IfERX

— debbie ? (@asdfjkBTS) March 22, 2019

2D OR NOT 2D#GoogleDoodle #BachDoodle pic.twitter.com/nTlOiBxua5

— けしゅぬ～ゆ@例大祭 そ-08b (@talk_nuyu) March 22, 2019

Born March 21, 1685, Bach composed both secular and sacred music. “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” a section of his popular organ piece, “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” is especially well-known.

After users have fun with the Doodle, they would be well advised to go back to the original and be amazed at what a 17th-century dude came up with using only his brain for recording equipment.

Loads time machine and travels back..

Hi Mr. Bach, do you know that most people from my time only know you from a doodle of you on a thing called a search engine on an internet

Bach: It's ok, I'll be dead soon and will definitely be rolling in my grave..#BachDoodle

— Mayur Mulki (@mayurmulki) March 22, 2019

Try the Doodle yourself, but be warned that it can be addicting.

I was busy working when one of the staff came to me and said I had a phone call. I asked who it was and they said; "Sebastian". I replied; "I'm a little busy right now so please take a message and tell him I'll call him Bach" #Bachdoodle #Bach

— Dave Heald (@DaveHeald) March 22, 2019