The Fragmented Orchestra – PRS Foundation

The Fragmented Orchestra is a huge distributed musical structure modelled on neurons firing in the brain. It’s designed by its composers to perform a profound and unique score to thousands of listeners across the UK.

We created a film for their entry to the PRS Foundation New Music Award. On winning the top prize, we were asked to create a visual language for all aspects of the project.

Communicating such a complex project required working closely with the academics and musicians involved. We settled on a set of generated geometric shapes that showed the increasing connections and complexity of the neuron firing patterns. We visualised the music across exhibition design, wall graphics, posters, and a performance catalogue.