The sixtieth anniversary of Alan Turing's arrival at the University of Manchester has been celebrated in music made from sounds recorded around a PC.

"The clicks, clacks, taps, whirs, buzzes and humming sounds made by the humble PC have been transformed into a musical soundscape," said the University.

The composer is post grad George Dennis who recorded the sounds made by CD drives, computer fans and keyboards, transforming them into different sounds.

Dennis is based at the £2.25 Million Novars Research Centre for Electroacoustic Composition, Performance and Sound-Art and also studied music at Manchester as an undergraduate.

The piece is called Electric Sheep after a novel by science fiction writer Philip K Dick about artificial intelligence - one of Turing's major interests - which became the film Blade Runner.

"I'm a classical violinist but have put that to one side for the time being to concentrate on electroacoustic music," said Dennis.

"I think Turing's achievements are of huge importance to the world. His interest in artificial intelligence partly inspired my piece but it's also a way of saying thanks to the man who's ideas made so many things possible."

Turing is also commemorated in the Alan Turing Building, completed last year, which houses Manchester's school of mathematics, photon science institute and the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics.

"The new building deliberately attempts to provide a conducive atmosphere for mathematical collaboration, with a design that aims to promote discussion and debate in its public space," said mathematics school head Professor Peter Duck.

It's more Stockhausen than Sham 69, but if you are into experimental music, you might want to listen to the piece.

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