Rewriting Sheet Music - ISTD Winner 2016
Recognised for typographic achievement and membership to the International Society of Typographic Designers
I remodelled the sheet music for Philip Glass’ famous opera, “Einstein on the Beach” using expressive typographic forms. It is fully functional as a music score to be read by a full SATB choir.
The final publication is intended for those who can read music notation but wish for a score with more expression, and thus, consequentially more visually, inspiring qualities. It’s purpose is not for performance night but rather the weeks leading up to it when the performers must mentally prepare themselves and persona they must assume, my musical notation shall help them achieve the correct state of mind. Musicians, like any artists, are naturally sensitive individuals and with my visualisation of Knee Play 3 they shall be transcended beyond the musical notes into Glass’ opera.
I started by mapping patterns in the musical’s lyrics and keys. Initially, these were colour coded, but I later removed this when it increased complexity for the user.
Reoccurring rhythms are simplified for the user into a code which is represented by glyphs.
In Adobe Illustrator, I was able to refine paper sketches blended with fonts to create curling lyrics that reflect the smooth singing style required in the chorus.
According to Mattias Hillner author of Basic Typography Virtual Typography the first stage in communication is the cognition of data and in order to communicate, information must first be identified as such. My leading typographic choice reflects this, as the curling fat serifs of BodoniNo2DUlt are reminiscent of the heavy dots and fine lines of music notes. Reflection of typographic forms reflect the reflection and repetition of Glass’s compositional style where he repeats or inverts rhythmic patterns.
Digital & Print
It is important the final product can be realised digitally as well as physically.
The digital product serves the practicalities of a touring choir.
In print the music becomes a piece of art to be enjoyed up close or from a distance.