Artwork Created, In Part, By Mozart Himself

There's a new artist busy creating work... and his name is Amadeus Mozart.

October 21, 2004 -- Most people are familiar with the classical composer, Amadeus Mozart. But few are aware that Mozart just began creating new work againin a new mediumwith the help of visual artist, James Kelley.

James Kelley is a musician, composer and visual artist who uses Mozarts music not only as inspiration, but also as a foundation on which he builds his own art.

The art is created, in part, by me, and part by Mozart, himself, explains Kelley.

The primary elements of Kelleys pieces are the instruments and notes from Mozarts Symphony in G Minor, carefully translated into color and shape. The results are rich, vivid expressions that really do seem reminiscent of the music that inspired them.

I began by creating a code, a translation of sound into shape and color. Then I applied the code to one of my favorite classical pieces, the andante movement of Mozarts k. 183.

Kelley begins the multi-stage process by first translating the notes of the musical scale into specific colors, shown below. The code matches middle C to red-orange, with each colors valueits lightness and darknessrepresenting a different octave range.

Once the musical notes to color scale is completed, Kelley translates the orchestras musical instruments into a specific shapes.

Stringed instruments are represented by various circular shapes. Horns and woodwinds become rectangles and squares.

Kelleys selection of particular colors and shapes draws on a combination of studies ranging from sound wave research to an instruments historical ties to cosmology.

The translation doesnt stop there. Kelley proceeds to transpose each instruments volume, dynamic range and duration. Audio volume becomes spatial volume: the greater an instruments prominence, the larger its shape. How far a shape stretches vertically indicates an instruments dynamic range.

Duration and rhythm, since they occur over time, are represented by horizontal distance.
Mozarts symphony is then precisely translated into a graphical composition of digitally created shapes and colors.

Thats my favorite step in the process, says Kelley, because once the translation is completed, the music itself begins to do the painting.

Kelley points out a series of shapes and colors. In the early measures of the andante movement, you can hear multiple notes played by the same instruments. In the graphic code, circles are the first and second violins, and each contains repeating, cascading three-note clusters. Thats the brilliance of Mozart.

While Kelley attributes the beauty of his compositions to Mozart, Kelley deserves more credit for the process than he takes. Once Mozarts composition is transposed into shapes and colors, Kelley begins a more subjective task of interpreting the musics rich expression and moods.

I listen to the piece, explains Kelley, and as faithfully as I can, using the symphonys notes and instruments, I add corresponding layers of motion, transparency and texture.

Whoever deserves the credit, whether the 18th Century composer or the 21st Century artist, the beauty of the work comes through, resonating, vibrant and inspired.

Kelley's Mozart-inspired art has just become available as limited edition lithographs and can be seen at www.IngrahamGalleries.com.

CONTACT: Bob Ingraham (805) 595-9506; e-mail protected from spam bots

Visuals for this release are available at the IngrahamGalleries.com website.

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