art and music collide in these 20 stunning graphic scores...

9/5/2019 Art and music collide in these 20 stunning graphic scores - Classic FM

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/graphic-scores-art-music-pictures/smith-luminous-axis/ 2/20

Art and music collide inthese 20 stunning graphicscoresExplore these beautiful (and at times perplexing)musical works of art, with pictures from TheresaSauer's stunning Notations21 book.

1. What is a graphic score?Unlike the more traditional �ve-lined musical stave, witheach line and each space representing a different pitch, agraphic score is a different way of notating a piece ofmusic.



2. Art and music togetherScores can blend conventional elements notation with theunconventional. The performer has to use the pictures toinspire his or her performance - it's more like a guide, or amusical map. Picture: iwantdesign



3. John Cage - AriaJohn Cage, the man behind so much groundbreaking musicincluding the famously silent 4'33", was a keen graphicscore composer. It might look like random squiggles, buteach line indicates a different style of singing, notated inwavy lines in ten different colors, and the black squaresindicate non speci�ed 'non-musical' sounds.

4. Bergstrøm-Nielsen - Towards An UnbearableLightnessOne feature of many graphic scores is they can be playedby any number of players, of any standard, on any



instrument. No two performances sound the same, but allthe players will be following the same instructions.

5. Crumb - Twelve Fantasy-Pieces after the Zodiacfor Ampli�ed PianoWith so many notes, this score would be dif�cult for anypianist to read if it was laid out simply on the page. Luckily,this piece by Crumb also contains three detailed pages ofinstructions, with movements including Primeval Sounds,Cruci�xus and Spiral Galaxy.



6. Ligeti - ArtikulationLigeti wrote his electronic piece, Artikulation, in 1958.Although it existed as a recording, there was no score formusicians to 'see' the music. Rainer Wehinger studied thepiece in the 1970s and created this colourful explanation ofthe music, with a vast key explaining all the colours andsymbols.

7. Cardew - TreatiseThis is just one fragment of the 193-page score for thislengthy work. Unlike many graphic scores, this piece hasno instructions as to how it should be played, so everyperformer has to make up their own rules!



8. McQueen - PicnicGraphic scores serve a dual purpose: as well as lookingbeautiful, they explain abstract ideas about how the musicshould be played. In this piece, written in 2006, each linerepresents a different instrument, with the colours andshapes informing how the music might sound.



9. Phillips - Golden Flower PieceGraphic scores �rst developed in the 1950s as analternative way of showing how music could be played. Butthey're not entirely straightforward for inexperiencedplayers. This piece by Tom Phillips uses uppercase lettersto show notes that should be played in the bass, andlowercase letters played in a higher register. You'reallowed to add �ats and sharps as you please. And the dotsaround the notes are supposed to help with how loud toplay the note, and how long to hold it for. He's blocked offa few notes too (you're not allowed to play a B �at at all).



10. Berberian - StripsodyOne of the most famous (and most cartoonish!) graphicscores is by composer Cathy Berberian. Written in 1966, ituses lines just like a traditional musical stave, indicating anapproximate pitch for the singer. The difference being, thesinger doesn't sing notes - she sings noises and words,with actions, including pretending to be a radio, roaringlike Tarzan, and urging a kite to come down from a tree...

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11. Cage - Water MusicDon't be fooled by the title: this work is nothing to do withHandel's work of the same name. The number of seconds iswritten on the top, with instructions as to the props to beused, accompanied by a tape.



12. Smith - Luminous AxisAny ideas how this one might sound? Because of the�exible nature of graphic scores, they can provideinstructions for a live performance, or just give a graphicalinterpretation of an electronic piece of music. This is ascore from a piece by Smith, which he describes as: "AnElectronic Sonic Garden of Delights and Transformations,Events 1-15"



13. Escot - Your Kindled Valors BendSometimes graphic scores aren't just abstract images ordrawings. Many include more traditional musical notationlike key signatures or musical staves - just in anunexpected layout!

14. Vitiello - First VerticalLuckily, there's no need to work out how on earth to playthis piece of music. It's another graphic score interpretingmusic that's already been recorded - a bit like listening to apiece and drawing what comes to mind.



15. Nomura - Shogi CompositionEver played Consequences? This is the musical equivalent.Find a piece of paper and some friends, and each grab acoloured pen. Write a musical phrase or draw a picturethat might inspire you, and pass it on to create your veryown composition. The beauty of this piece is that anypaper will do: this one's written on the back of a NaturalHistory Museum paper bag...



16. Antosca - One Becomes TwoIt doesn't look all that different from a traditional musicalscore... until you realise there are no barlines and there'sno stave. Still, the music gives an idea about rhythm andpitch, even with some of the traditional features missing.

17. Loyato - Celestial Spheres Fantasy ForImprovisersWritten for 40 performers, this solar-system-inspiredpiece asks groups of performers including choirs, duos,trios and quartets to start playing in an orbit-style cycle.



18. Kwi - Drawing the airThis nature-inspired score is a representation of anelectronic piece by composer Slavek Kwi. He explained:"There is nothing to be understood, no comprehensionrequired accessing this work… only intensive listening."

19. Schorn - NebulaComposer Brian Schorn is as much a visual artist andgraphic designer as he is an expert in eletroacoustic music- that is, music using electronic sounds. Nebula is writtenfor three instruments, with each player taking inspirationfrom one of the three interlinked dark clouds.



20. Phillips - OrnamentikIt might look a bit like a load of unusual road signs, butOrnamentik is actually a piece for trombone. It was drawnat the request of an American player, Stuart Dempster,who asked for a piece that would provide variousprovocative challenges to corner him into inventing newsounds or techniques.



21. Schnee - ChollobhatWhen it comes to imagining what this experimental jazz-inspired composition might sound like, your guess is asgood as ours. Composed by abstract artist and musician,Daniel Schnee, the highly detailed symbols all inform howthe music should be performed.

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art and music collide in these 20 stunning graphic scores...

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