Google creates first AI Doodle to honor Bach

江苏南菁高级中学 范克强

约翰·塞巴斯蒂安·巴赫被尊称为“近代音乐之父”，他把西欧不同民族的音乐风格融为一体，在18世纪创作出很多脍炙人口的曲子。如今，在巴赫诞辰334年之际，谷歌公司也为巴赫准备了一份神奇的“礼物”!

主题意义 体会科技与艺术 体裁 新闻文章词数302 新颖度 ★★★★★ 建议用时5′

难词扫障

1.doodle n.涂鸦

2.melody n.旋律

3.animated adj.动画的

4.browser n.浏览器

5.attribute v.把……归因于

Johann Sebastian Bach is getting a very modern celebration on what would be his 334th birthday.The composer was honored with his very own Google Doodle—and the Doodle itself is making a bit of history：It's the first to be powered by artificial intelligence．

The AI Google Doodle allows users to create their own tunes，like Bach did back in the 18th century.The Doodle uses machine learning to harmonize melodies.It can turn your music into a Bach-inspired piece，or a compound of Bach and 80s rock—only if you find a hidden“Easter egg”in the Doodle，Google announced．

The AI Doodle was created by Google's Magenta and PAIR teams.Magenta is the company's research project for exploring machine learning；PAIR advances AI research.The advanced Doodle starts with a tiny animated Bach character teaching about harmony and melody.He adds a few notes until he gets a four-part harmony—Bach's significant contribution to music.The user is then invited to add some notes to the staff，and by clicking a“harmonize” button， the Google Doodle uses machine learning to create a harmonized tune.While Magenta handled the machine learning aspect，PAIR created a way for the machine learning to happen within the Web browser.Then，Google's Doodle team brought it all to life.Google released a video explaining how the teams combined technology with art to create the first AI Doodle．

The reason for this great gift to Bach is that the composer was born in the small German town of Eisenach on this day in 1685（under the old Julian calendar），Google explains.Bach composed music at a productive pace and could build and repair complex organs.

Reading Check

1.What can we know about Google Doodle from the text？

A.It was created to celebrate Bach's 334th birthday．

B.It was of little effect on music development in history．

C.It was advanced by a“harmonize”button in AI research．

D.It was a combination of technology and art by the PAIR teams．

2.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 4 imply？

A.Bach achieved much success at a fast speed．

B.Bach was inspired by someone at a young age．

C.Bach took pride in his contributions to composition．

D.Bach was very strict with himself and set a higher standard for work．

Language Study

Ⅰ.Important vocabulary in the text

1.a bit of 一点

2.power v.驱动

3.advance v.发展

4.release v.发布

5.inspiration n.灵感

Ⅱ.Sentences for writing

1.现在进行时表将来，表示计划或安排

Johann Sebastian Bach is getting a very modern celebration on what would be his 334th birthday.约翰·塞巴斯蒂安·巴赫将在他诞辰334周年那天得到一个非常新式的庆祝活动。

【仿写】杰克的生日马上就要到了，我想给他买点好东西。

2.The reason for sth is that...意为“某事的原因是……”

The reason for this great gift to Bach is that the composer was born in the small German town of Eisenach on this day in 1685.送给巴赫这份大礼的原因是，这位作曲家于1685年的这一天出生在德国小镇爱森纳赫。

【仿写】她被公司解雇的原因是经常迟到早退。