Motion Graphic Notation
Christian Fischer · 2013
In electro-acoustic music, only a few examples of notation like Stockhausen’s ‘Studie II’ can be found. Regular staff notation is simply not feasible for synthetic or concrete sounds. Visual representations of sounds like spectrograms are significant analysis tools, yet they are not useful as a score. Most electro-acoustic composers would even argue that there is no need for notation in electro-acoustic music as it is primarily produced and performed using computers. However, in live electronic music, communication between a computer musician and performer using acoustic instruments like a piano or violin is vital for interaction and profound performance practice. Using oral agreements, a chronograph or score following techniques has its drawbacks. Additionally, the performance of musicians using acoustic instruments is easy to follow for the audience, while the actions of performers using a computer, mouse, keyboard or twisting knobs on a MIDI device and the generation of live electronic music itself, often remain a mystery. This paper discusses different graphic approaches and proposes computerised Motion Graphic Notation to communicate actions, musical structure and dramaturgy for all performers and the audience. This includes not only a sequence of musical events but also indications regarding pitch and dynamics for acoustic instruments, indications regarding source, quality and definition of a sound, for live electronics and the development of sound over time. Motion Graphic Notation is based on animated graphics that support logic implications regarding their sonic counterpart.