We did an experiment like this in second grade. We were supposed to draw what we thought the sound would look like if it had physical shape. There's a mental condition, too, that causes people to perceive inbound stimuli with the sense not normally associated with it, such as "seeing" odors or "hearing" colors. I don't know what it's called, but I think it's pretty rare.
It's called Synesthesia. (There are some links at the bottom of the linked page that might be what you're looking for, Theory.)
just read the link, very interesting! Meanwhile, re my daughter, lets hope its something she learned at nursery!
It's as simple as drawing what comes to mind when you hear the sound. For instance, when I hear "Ride of the Valkyries", I think of a crapload of helicopters and harriers swooping in and naping and rocketing the shit out of beachead.
Whenever I hear "Ride of the Valkyries" I always think of a storm at sea battering some helpless ship while her crew tries to keep her from swamping.
What about Beethoven's 5th? I think of a Zepplin being swarmed by Sopwith Camels whilst being defended by a swarm of Fokker E.III's and Dr.I's.
That would make a great video! I usually get a lazer light show with fountains. Must come from really enjoying "Fantasia" when I was little, but I don't think they did Beethoven's 5th. It's just the images I get. "Ode to Joy" also gets me on the fountain theme, but I also think of panoramas of unspoiled wilderness. To be terribly low-class, "The Barber of Seville" has been permanently characterized by flowers popping out of Elmer Fudd's head, but I used to have this book called "Fifty Years and Only One Gray Hare" that showed that the animators and soundtrack people who did the Bugs Bunny cartoons really had a genuine appreciation for the Classics, even turning to them for inspiration in their orignal compositions, such as "Mechanized Madness", which was a stomping, relentless piece used by the studio to depict industrial scenes.
