From digital to analogue : A qualitative study of the transformation processes from MIDI to note script in symphonic music

This study examines how to translate digitally composed symphonic music to note script and how it gets readable and playable. With the help of professional musicians from the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, teachers from Kulturskolan in Norrköping as well as other musicians, I have learned how I can improve each individual stem in my composition. I also learned how to write for a real musician. My score have been analyzed by composers and a conductor which have given me a more in depth insight into composing symphonic music. The theory section describes important MIDI aspects, score preparation and note editing techniques. Thereafter is a section about the symphony orchestra and its instruments’ history and how the situation is today. Furthermore the work process of the conductor and the choral conductor are described as well as the interpretation of the musician. The theory section concludes with a survey on musical factors in relation to experienced emotions. The execution section describes how I first worked with the composition to adjust MIDI values in the sequencer program Nuendo 3, then how to write correct note script in the note script program Finale 2009. Thereafter the adjustments I needed to make after interviewing musicians as well as composers and a conductor are described and eventual problems that occurred meanwhile. The result section sums up the thoughts and suggestions made by the professional musicians, composers and conductor about the individual parts’ playability and readability. It turned out that the stems were written in the wrong time signature and had a few graphical flaws. The result of the survey on the digital composition experienced by the musicians as well as the composers is described. Most people experienced the piece as warlike. The discussion section and conclusion discuss what could have been done differently, what compromises had to be made and what were most difficult to execute. MIDI related issues are discussed that take place in composing digital music and during the translation to note script. Then my opinion regarding how well this method works in translating MIDI to note script is discussed as well as what I would do different in an upcoming project. Lastly I speak about suggested topics for future research