Sonakinatography
Reinterpreting a 1970s algorithmic dance piece
Decades before the era of laptop-based algorithmic music, systems artist Channa Horwitz used paint, pencil and paper to precisely map out mathematically rich instructions for dance, light and music.
Mark Fell and I each interpeted Sonakinatography III, one of Horwitz’ systems pieces from the early 1970s, as part of a retrospective of her work at Raven Row gallery, Shoreditch (10-12 March 2016). My interpretation used bell samples controlled and repitched in Max to faithfully follow Horwitz’ graphical instructions. This music accompanied dance choreographed by Ellen Davis, Horwitz’ daughter.
