RETHINKING THE NOTATION DESIGN SPACE

Previous work has demonstrated how the analysis and creation of musical notation can be seen within the context of information visualisation. In this case, graphical and musical features are broken down into primary categories which can then be linked to one another, allowing for the visualisation of notation mapping schemes. The space for mapping these elements is known as the Notation Design Space (NDS). While the NDS has the potential to be a powerful tool for analysing and creating new notations, the current model does not provide adequate support for notations which depict the actions of the performer. This paper proposes changes to the current NDS to include the mapping of sound-producing and -facilitating gestures, followed by a theoretical analysis of the similarities between notation and digital musical instrument mapping. The inclusion of musical gesture within the NDS serves a dual purpose; it allows for a more nuanced reading of prescriptive-based notation focusing more on the actions of the performer, while also aligning the development of new notations with interaction design processes