What is "soundpainting"

n. 1 To give a visual impression using sound alone. 2 A language of hand and body gestures whereby a conductor/composer can communicate with musicians dancers, actors, visual artists to create a real-time composition in performance

Soundpainting is the live composing sign language created in 1974 by New York composer Walter Thompson for musicians, dancers, actors, poets, and visual artists. At present, the Soundpainting language comprises more than 1200 gestures that are signed by the composer/director, known as the Soundpainter, indicating the type of material desired of the performers. Direction of the composition is gained through the parameters of each set of signed gestures.