As part of the Visual Composition and Rhythm course by IMM assistant professor Christian Schäfer, music visualisation in the form of notation systems outside of our traditional European notation system is addressed. Alternative music notations of visual artists and musicians were examined, such as the music visualisations and notation of the musician Anthony Braxton or the collection Notations put together by John Cage.

As a practical exercise the students each drew a piece of music in a lottery process. This was to be visualised graphically – without using our conventional note or writing system. The notes resulting from this were passed on without music, title or other indications of the piece to another participant who then recorded their interpretation of the notation. The track that was produced in this way was given a title and was in turn passed on for another participant to visualise – this time in the form of a cover.

Step 1 > My Favourite Things by John Coltrane (original track and starting point):

Step 2 > Notation of My Favourite Things by Peter Thoma:

Step 3 > S.O.P.T. by Florian Breuer (audio interpretation of the notation above):

Step 4 > Cover design for S.O.P.T. by Milan Schell:

Step 1 > A Day In The Life by The Beatles (original track and starting point):

Step 2 > Notation for A Day In The Life by Florian Breuer:

Step 3 > Trampelpfad by Peter Thoma (audio interpretation of the notation above):

Step 4 > Cover design for Trampelpfad by Julian Martinz:

Step 1 > Let It Loose by The Rolling Stones (original track and starting point):

Step 2 > Notation of Let it Loose by Julian Martinz:

Step 3 > Muli by Milan Schell (audio interpretation of the notation above):

Step 4 > Cover design for Muli by Peter Thoma:

Step 1 > Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones (original track and starting point):

Step 2 > Notation of Paint It Black by Milan Schell:

Step 3 > Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones (no audio interpretation since the original was recognized from the notation above):

Step 4 > Cover for Paint It Black by Florian Breuer: