Visualizing Music

Inspired by early experimental works, this animation visually abstracts the Prelude of Ernest Bloch’s Concerto Grosso No. 1. As the first movement of four, this piece is intended to build tension with dissonant harmonies and jarring dynamic contrast. This animation thus focuses on building a system of visual elements—each represents a section of the orchestra—that are positioned, move, and interact in a way that creates tension. Color and shape illustrate the timbre of each instrument. For example, rounder shapes and cool, deep colors represent bass and cello, whereas strong rectangular forms and bright yellow and red depict the intense violins. The traditional stage layout of an orchestra was used to establish the layout of the composition after being slightly abstracted to fit the frame.