In 1972, the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara was commissioned to write a ceremonial piece for the University of Oulu, Finland.  He combined birdsong with orchestral music to create a haunting and evocative sound.

The birdsong was recorded in the Arctic Circle and Finland and includes the calls of the shore lark and a flock of swans.  There are a number of versions available on YouTube but we have chosen this link which includes a slideshow of the music written by Rautavaara.  As the music plays and its magic takes hold, the score becomes a sequence of beautiful graphic images of pattern: drawings of sound.  Alternatively, looking away from the screen and focussing attention purely on the music allows the imagination free reign.

We hope that the music will inspire you to create your own visual responses – for ideas on how to explore drawing and music have look at these exciting resources:

‘A Cheerful Orchestra and Other Ideas for Drawing Music’  by Hannah Coulson

‘Drawing Music‘ by Sheila Ceccarelli

This is a sample of resource created by UK Charity AccessArt. We have over 1100 resources to help develop and inspire your creative thinking, practice and teaching.

AccessArt welcomes artists, educators, teachers and parents both in the UK and overseas.

We believe everyone has the right to be creative and by working together and sharing ideas we can enable everyone to reach their creative potential.

creating decorative designs from birds: markmaking, texture and pattern

In the Company of Birds

nest

Rowan: Making a Clay Bird from a Mould

dragons and birds in eggs: hidden and revealed

making birds! sculptural ideas for primary schools

Sculptural Birds in Flight by Teenage Makers

rook: transforming materials

Printing at Battyford Primary, Inspired by Hester Cox

‘Flock’ at Prospect House School, Inspired by Veronica Lindsay-Addy

book transformation: flock of birds

drawing birds with mixed media: creating effects with oil pastels, crayons and ink washes

‘Dawn Chorus’ by Marcus Coates

Colourful Sculptural Birds by Pupils at Donhead Preparatory School

Priscilla the Puffin: Make a Simple Bird Mobile

How to Make a Simple Origami Bird by Melanie Johns

Paper Pidgeon Project

‘Birds in the Trees’ by Pupils at Battyeford Primary School

Brave Young Makers: Year Three Pupils at Ridgefield Primary Transform materials into Birds and Insects

making modroc sculpture

cantus articus (Concerto for birds and orchestra) Op.61: Images Inspired by Music

Perseverance, Determination and Inventiveness: Building Nests

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Visual Arts Planning Collections: Birds

monoprinting with carbon copy paper

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Pathway: Lubaina Himid

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Pathway: Exploring Form Through Drawing

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Adapting AccessArt: From 2D to 3D

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Talking Points: Lubaina Himid

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Talking points: Shaheen Ahmed

talking points: Louise Despont

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Pathway: Sculpture, Structure, Inventiveness & determination

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Talking Points: What can we learn from birds

Drawing source material: nests

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Drawing Like a Caveman – Handprint Art

Continuous Line Drawings