2024

Graphic scores revisited


Juice Cui

This audio paper explores how composers expand their sound work in graphic scores as well as how they, as composers, create, performers, read, and listeners, understand them.  In contrast to traditional musical notations (specifically Eastern jianpu and Western staves), graphic scores provide fresh perspectives and generate unique and free musical experiences for composers, performers, and audiences alike.

My research into this topic has led to three conclusions; Firstly, via comparative case studies of Morton Feldman’s Projection 1 and Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Gesang der Jünglinge, I argue that for composers, due to the open form of graphic scores, it lowers the threshold for participation, increasing diversity of creative forms but might also lead to increased market competition.

Secondarily, performers are also the co-composers. Performers who engage with graphic scores must possess a high degree of improvisational ability to interpret and bring to life the innovative visualisations presented effectively. Composers and performers must collaborate, embracing subjectivity and working together to interpret and comprehend the music.

Thirdly, graphic scores offer audience members a multidimensional encounter that invites interpretation and presents problems. For example, the audience did not recognise or desire the spontaneity proffered by Feldman’s ‘projections.’

The form of this audio paper takes the audience through a listening journey through interviews, exhibitions, and documentary films, traversing through the history and taxonomy of music scores, through sound archives, and ultimately to the future possibilities of graphic notation.

 

Bio

https://artisti.megaart.it/juice-cui

Juice is a relentless innovator in the realm of avant-garde artistry, a sound art practitioner and a performance virtuoso hailing from an enclave of isolation. Her creative oeuvre traverses the dimensions of artistic expression, commencing with two-dimensional classical paintings and illustrations, then advancing boldly into the realm of three-dimensional contemporary short films and sculptures, and ultimately ascending into the fourth dimension, characterized by spatial sound design and digital media manipulation.

 

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Interlude, Why church authorities deemed this piece inappropriate for church performance (2023)

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Exhibitions

Morton Feldman,  Six Painters Exhibition, Houston, Texas (1967)

Michael Wellen, Philip Guston, 1913-1980, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG, 5 October 2023 – 25 February 2024

Paul J. Sachs, Thing/Thought: Fluxus Editions, 1962–1978, Moma, United States, Sep 21, 2011–Jan 16, 2012

The Renaissance Society, WADADA LEO SMITH-ANKHRASMATION: THE LANGUAGE SCORES, 1967-2015, The University of Chicago, OCT 11–OCT 29, 2015.

 

Films

Music Rewind 09 (2023)

Karlheinz Stockhausen – Music and cosmology (2012)

Tech Stuff, Manuale Video di Musica Elettronica (2007)

Mieko Shiomi, Disappearing Music for Face (Fluxfilm no. 4) (1965)

 

Scores

1. A sample page of Al-Shirāzī’s Durrat al-Tāj. Suleymaniye Library, Ayasofya, MS 2405

2. A sample page of percussion score in <LiJi>, China

3. A sample page of Jianpu in <Popular Hulusi Collection>, China

4. Cistercian neumes, St. Denis/St. Evrault, North France, 12th century

5. Morton Feldman. (1961) Projection I. Copyright © 1961 Used by permission of C. F. Peters Corporation

6.Karlheinz Stockhausen. (1956) Gesang der Jünglinge, Manuscript. https://www.stockhausen-verlag.com/Verlag_Edition_Scores_Publications.html

7. Mingqiu. (684-714) Jieshidaoyoulan, Manuscript

8. James Paterson, (2022) The classical Composer Poster, Print. http://www.classicalcomposersposter.com/

9. Shiomi, Mieko.  (1973) Lyric Suite / Print

10. Tyagaraja. (2010) Kalaharanamelara, Print

11. Wadada Leo Smith. Symphony No.1 Fall, Painting. https://www.wadadaleosmith.com/philosophy-and-language-of-music/ankhrasmation-gallery

 

Sound archives

Bach, J. S. (2019) Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I.Prelude  [Song performed by Yo-yo Ma]. Available at: Spotify

John Cage, Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble, Jan Williams (1939) Imaginary Landscape No.1. Available at: Spotify

Jones, B. and Albro, T. (2014) ARCHITECTURAL MODEL MAKING FOR ANOTHER TIMBRE. Available at: https://bonnie-jones.com/portfolio/bonnie-jones-tim-albro-architectural-model-making-by-sarah-hughes/

JONES, B. and LOUBATIÈRE, R. (2020) Ryoko AKAMA “Grey (Gray ) ” [insub . distances 3 / 8]. Available at: https://insub.bandcamp.com/album/ryoko-akama-grey-gray-insub-distances-3-8-2

Liege, E. (2010) Invitatorium: Deum Verum [Song performed by Psallentes]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgCL2bTQXSY

Melvyn Bragg. (2012) Al-Kindi. Available at: BBC Radio 4

Morton Feldman (2005) Projection 1 [Song performed by Taco Kooistra]. Available at: https://www.are.na/block/1800008

Morton Feldman (1992) Projection 1 [Song performed by Frances-Marie Uitti]. Available at: Spotify

Morton Feldman, Dorothy Stone, Gloria Cheng-Cochran, and Arthur Jarvinen (1984) Feldman: For Philip Guston, Album. Available at: Spotify

Morton Feldman and David Tudor (1935-1948) Intersection 3 For Piano. Available at: https://newworldrecords.bandcamp.com/album/john-cage-music-for-keyboards-1935-1948-morton-feldman-the-early-years

Morton Feldman and Sabine Liebner (2013) Nature Piece 4. Available at: Spotify

Pinghu Guan. (2022) 碣石调幽兰, CPX017268, Mono. Available at: https://www.ctmsa-cnaa.com/

Quran. (2022) Darood E Taj. Available at: Spotify

Shiomi, M. and Toop, D. (2019) Boundary Music. Available at: Spotify

Shuddha Saveri Raagam. (2021) Kalaharana Melara Hare. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T5mB0aD7XM

Shuting, C. (2023) Lost Moon; Asian zither: Sushi Collection; New Man. (2024) Organ: Beyond Times, Beyond Galaxy.

Stockausen, K. (1962) Gesang der Jünglinge (Song of the Youths). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mI-HP5xdS0

Stockausen, K. (2013) Gesang der Jünglinge (Song of the Youths). Available at: Spotify

Stockhausen, K. and Eötvös, P. and WDR Sinfonieorchestra Köln (1955/1957) Gruppen- For 3 Orchestras. Available at: Spotify

Weiss, J. J. Saada, M. Eldin, A. S. (1983) Al Kindi “Arab Classical Music”. Available at: Arab Music Channel

 

Video

Anaïs Maviel for AFA Artist Talks. (2015) Wadada Leo Smith | Artist Talks (2 of 2), Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66VbKJ6NR9M&t=4s

Cathy Berberian. Cathy Berberian | Stripsody, Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dNLAhL46xM

Contact Cmap,  Interview Shiomi Mieko(2011)

Charles Shere. Morton Feldman Interviewed by Charles Shere (1967)

Dabbledoo, Compose with graphic notation (2021) 

Danish TV, Karlheinz Stockhausen Interview (1986)

Hainbach, Don’t push the sounds around – working with a graphic score (2020)

Kesong Shi, 到春来 (2023)

Matthias Ziegler, Samuel Ziegler Morton Feldman Projection 1 (2016)

Michael Plourde, How to Read & Write Graphic Notation (part 2) – Music Stuff With Spock #9 (2018)

Mieko Shiomi, Boundary Music, performed by EEMT Ensemble for Experimental Music and Theater (1963)

Mieko Shiomi, An Incidental Story On The Day Of A Solar Eclipse #1#2#3 (1998)

Music notation is beautiful, How to read neumes? (Part 2) (2020)

Morton Feldman, Projection 1, performance by Matthias Ziegler (2016)

Sarah Belle Reid, Creating & Performing Graphic Scores | The Postcard Project (2021)

Swaralaya, Swaram Theory Part 1 – Naming the notes. (2010)

Karlheinz Stockausen, Polar Music Prize (2001)

Wang Liguang, Inaugural Speech (2020)

Cui Shuting, Kleinsche Flasche (2023)

Wadada Leo Smith: Four Symphonies performed by The LabSF (2017)

WDR, Karlheinz Stockhausen explains Kontakte, (1960)