Un1verse Anatomy

Un1verse Anatomy dissects the cosmos into three movements of sound — algorithmic patterns live-coded in Strudel, interwoven with organ, piano, cello, and electric guitar performed in real time on a MIDI keyboard.

《宇宙解剖》把宇宙拆解为三个声音乐章——在 Strudel 中实时编写的算法节律， 与管风琴、钢琴、大提琴和电吉他的现场即兴交织在一起。

Performance Video

Recording of the final live performance.

最终现场演出录像。

Overview

Un1verse Anatomy is a live coding performance that fuses algorithmic music programming with live instrumental playing. Strudel generates the rhythmic backbone and harmonic textures of the piece, its MIDI signals routed directly into Logic Pro, while a 61-key MIDI keyboard places organ, piano, cello, and electric guitar under my fingers in real time.

A channel-switching scheme assigns each instrument its own MIDI channel, making it possible to leap between voices mid-phrase. The result is a cosmic narrative told across three interconnected movements, accompanied by visuals live-coded in p5live by my teammate Andy Ye — stellar explosions, galaxies, and wormholes unfolding in step with the music.

Process

The piece began as pure Strudel: building intricate patterns and textures to lay the foundational ambience. But coded music alone has expressive limits, so I routed Strudel's output into Logic Pro to harness its sound libraries, mixer, and processing effects — then iterated on instrument timbres, transitions, and compositional structure until the layers settled into a cohesive sonic palette.

The hardest problem was moving smoothly between movements. The answer came from the canon: Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor serves as a bridging motif out of the first movement, and a Chopin waltz fragment, reinterpreted live, carries the second to its close — before a visceral electric guitar riff tears the piece into its finale.

Technical Setup

Musical Structure

The performance unfolds in three connected movements. The first opens gently — a harp establishing an ethereal atmosphere over a steady snare pulse, growing into lush string orchestrations and synthesizers that evoke the boundless expanse of space, until the organ, played live, drives the section to its dramatic peak. Bach's Toccata and Fugue then bridges into the second movement.

The second movement is a serene interplay of harp and piano. A flute-like organ voice carries improvised melodic flourishes, and a percussion shift turns the music into a cosmic waltz of cello and romantic organ textures — spirited buoyancy fused with solemnity. A Chopin waltz, reinterpreted live, closes the section before a distorted guitar riff breaks it open.

The finale intensifies relentlessly: energetic drum patterns, robust bass lines, and vibrant synthesizers, with distorted electric guitar sweeps performed live, push the cosmic narrative to its zenith.

Reflections

Andy and I coordinated closely across several sessions: his visual transitions answered my rhythmic patterns — shifting between three-four and four-four time — highlighting both the music's climactic peaks and its introspective moments. Planning gave us a solid framework, but it was the real-time responsiveness of the performance itself that truly deepened the synergy between sound and image.

The project revealed a potent synergy between structured digital processes and spontaneous human creativity. Balancing prepared code against live improvisation offered both stability and expressive freedom — a method I plan to explore further in future works.

Visuals by Andy Ye, whose stellar explosions, galaxies, and wormholes gave this universe its body.

Future Directions

Encouraged by this performance, I envision pushing interactive multimedia integration further — richer visual coupling and audience-responsive interactivity. The dynamic interplay between technology and musical expression explored here remains fertile ground for continued experimentation and artistic growth.