Music dynamics and positive/negative space

 

Music has a natural way of growing, expanding, and filling a space with sound. Pieces can exhibit softly building tensions to triumphant flares. These dynamics play an integral part in the shape of music as it progresses through time.

 

My research explores a visual relationship to this dynamic by associating music dynamics with positive and negative space. Louder moments in music are associated with larger and brighter forms in the visualization and softer moments are associated with smaller and darker visual forms.

 

Many of my works explore this relationship either coincidentally or deliberately. The image to the right shows the juxtaposition of softer music (smaller waveform) with smaller visuals and louder music (larger waveform) and larger visuals. This correlation can be visualized in many different forms and therefore is ripe for artistic exploration.

This video demonstrates the relationship between visual space and music dynamics. As the music grows in volume, the sphere begins to illuminate and bloom out into white. The piece is a short excerpt from one of my compositions entitled A Dreamwoven Future with Her.

 

Incorporating multiple audio inputs can create unique intricacies as the different audio inputs fluctuate in their dynamics. Multiple microphone inputs from musicians in a performing ensemble could visually demonstrate the careful dynamic balance that is maintained between the different instrumentalists.

 

As one musician increases in volume, another one may be decreasing in volume, creating an auditory and visual cross fade. Adding more layers increases the music's texture and complexity, and these elements can be used to increase the visual depth and intricacy of an animation.

 

Musical themes and patterns and their relationship to visual form

 

Music inherently consists of musical patterns, themes, and motifs. These recurring fragments form the basis for themes and an overall concept or idea for the piece of music. Musical themes are often introduced, developed, iterated upon, and restated towards the end of the piece to present a solid concept that pervades thoughout the entire piece of music.

 

These musical concepts can also provide a foundation for visual development and exploration. They can inform design and artistic decisions that are made during the development of the music visualization. Structures in music can be used to enhance the design process in creating an overall visual form within the animation.
 

The use of the computer as a tool and a companion in the creation and generation process of a visual animation

 

The role of the computer is traditionally that of content creation. The computer functions as a tool for the creation of all assets necessary in an animation. The final result is rendered and displayed as a video. This work seeks to expand the role of the computer. In addition to the computer's function as a content creation tool, the computer will also be responsible for all aspects of the animation's execution. Furthermore, the computer will be allowed to develop, expand, and iterate on select processes or animations.

 

The ability for the computer to construct unknowns in the animation is a unique aspect of this work. It also allows the artist to react to the computer's generative processes. The computer becomes elevated in its function as it becomes a companion in the generative processes of the work. The artist and the computer work and respond together and both react to the evolution and progression of the music.