This project explores a unique approach to music composition using shape grammars—a system of visual rules originally developed in architecture and design. By applying these rules to music, the goal was to create a generative process that could produce evolving, unpredictable musical structures. The process draws on a mix of deterministic and chance-based methods, inspired by earlier algorithmic techniques like Per Nørgård’s Infinity Series and the stochastic strategies of Xenakis. The composition was developed in two versions, each building on the previous version to explore how shape, space, and sound interact. The result is a system that offers both structure and surprise—allowing musical ideas to emerge from visual patterns. This paper reflects on the creative and technical process behind the project, its challenges, and the potential of using shape grammars as a tool for generative sound design.
