https://doi.org/10.1177/1029864917712580 Musicae Scientiae 2018, Vol. 22(1) 119–144 © The Author(s) 2017 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1029864917712580 journals.sagepub.com/home/msx Musical blending and creativity: An empirical evaluation of the CHAMELEON melodic harmonisation assistant Asterios Zacharakis Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Maximos Kaliakatsos-Papakostas Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Costas Tsougras Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Emilios Cambouropoulos Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Abstract This article presents the CHAMELEON melodic harmonisation assistant that utilises the principles of conceptual blending theory as a means for the invention of hybrid or novel harmonic idioms and an empirical evaluation of a number of computer-generated melodic harmonisation blends. Melodies originating from various idioms were harmonised either according to the harmonic rules of the original idiom, according to the rules of a different idiom (melody–harmony blends), or by blending idioms, modes and transported versions of the same idiom (harmony–harmony blends). In two similar experimental set ups, the task of the listeners was to i) perform idiom, mode or type of chromaticism classification, ii) report their preference, and iii) rate the degree of expectancy characterising each harmonisation. The results show that harmonic blending (either melody–harmony or harmony–harmony) influences the identification of idiom, mode and type of chromaticism. This suggests that the harmonic blending system has indeed succeeded in producing perceivable blends under various conditions that were unexpected and also equally preferred compared to non-blends. Keywords computational creativity, conceptual blending, empirical evaluation, harmony, style classification Corresponding author: Asterios Zacharakis, School of Music Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts, University Campus in Thermi, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece. Email: aszachar@mus.auth.gr 712580MSX 0 0 10.1177/1029864917712580Musicae ScientiaeZacharakis et al. research-article 2017 Article