GNMISS: A scoring system for Internet2 electroacoustic music

Abstract

The ‘comprovisation’ (Dudas 2010) of electroacoustic music in an affective manner through Internet2, using a directed dramaturgy approach, poses unique scoring problems. Building on prior work (Whalley 2009, 2012c), GNMISS (Graphic Networked Music Interactive Scoring System) was developed to address this. The system has four visual layers that illustrate the structure of works, represented on a circle with parts for each player. One layer maps emotions to colours based on associated words as a primary basis for gesture and timbre representation. A second layer gives musical motives and frequency information for participants to follow. A third allows for more detailed indications of gesture and sound archetypes through representative symbols. Finally, an inside layer represents macro key centres. For timing, the circle score turns in clock time with the current playing position always at noon, and a central metronome shows speed independent of clock time. Technically, client programs sit on distributed machines across the Internet, with data being coordinated by an OSC Server. Distributed scores can be built by a composer or by a team, and all content can be altered simultaneously across client machines. Two works are discussed as initial examples of its implementation: Sensai na Chikai and SymbolAct.