Erin Fuller – LookingOutwards-09

I found Jenni Lee’s Looking Outward for week seven, which was focused on computational information visualization. She chose to exam the project titled, “The Creatures of Prometheus – Generative Visualisation of Beethoven’s Ballet with Houdini” by Simon Russell. The project visualizes how Bethoven’s 1801 Ballet is conducted in a symphony orchestra.

“The Creatures of Prometheus – Generative Visualisation of Beethoven’s Ballet with Houdini” by Simon Russell, (2017)

I think this piece is not only beautiful in terms of execution, but because of how well it communicates the information, it also could be used as an educational piece. I remember in elementary school going on a field trip every year to the Naples Philharmonic and that was pretty much my only exposure to chamber music, albeit still a lot of exposure. For those who do not have the opportunity to have that experience, this visualization is a fantastic way, in a much more modern approach than traditional music education, to show how orchestras work and are put together.