music theory is witchcraft

GST Channel

1 Jun 202404:00

Summary

TLDRThis script delves into the symbolic representation of musical concepts through alchemy and geometry. It challenges the conventional understanding of music theory by illustrating how melodies and harmonies can be visualized as cyclical journeys. The script uses the circle of fifths, a fundamental music theory tool, to demonstrate how even foundational concepts can be flawed or 'magical' in nature. It encourages musicians to explore beyond traditional rules, emphasizing creativity and the joy of discovery in musical composition.

Takeaways

🌕 The moon's symbol in alchemy is a direct visual reference to the second most obvious cycle in the sky, which is unusual as cycles are typically represented by circles.
🎵 Music is described as a journey, often cyclical, involving establishing a home and then traveling away, which applies to both harmony and melody.
🎶 A melody that doesn't leave its starting point is considered just a tone, emphasizing the importance of movement in music.
🛤️ The concept of plotting a melody as a trip around a circle is introduced, with the idea that you can only go halfway into an octave before being drawn back towards the starting point.
🧂 The symbol for salt is used to illustrate a tritone, a dissonant interval in music, showing how shapes can represent musical concepts.
🔺 The shapes of triangles and squares are associated with augmented and diminished chords, respectively, indicating the liminal areas in the circle of notes.
🌀 The circle of fifths is a fundamental concept in music theory, but it's built on a slight inaccuracy, as the perfect fifth is off by a small percentage.
🔄 The circle of fifths is actually more of a spiral due to the slight discrepancy in the frequency ratio of the perfect fifth, leading to a Pythagorean comma.
🚫 The common misconception that music theory is a strict set of rules to follow is debunked, suggesting that it is more flexible and open to interpretation.
🧙‍♂️ Music is referred to as 'squishy witchcraft,' implying that it is more of an art form that allows for creativity and personal expression beyond strict theory.
💫 The speaker encourages the listener to have fun and experiment with music, suggesting that reinventing the wheel can be a part of the creative process.

Q & A

What symbol represents the moon in alchemy and why is it considered a direct visual reference?
-The moon in alchemy is represented by a symbol where the ground intersects, which is a direct visual reference because it represents the second most obvious cycle in the sky, after the sun.
Why are circles commonly used to represent cycles?
-Circles are commonly used to represent cycles because they are one of the most fundamental shapes that naturally depict a cycle, as they have no beginning or end and are continuous.
What is the relationship between music and movement according to the script?
-According to the script, music is intrinsically about movement, with the journey often being cyclical. It involves establishing a home and then traveling away, typically returning to the home at some point.
How does the script describe the journey of a melody?
-The script describes a melody's journey as a trip around a circle, where the destination note, such as C, is reached through various musical paths.
What is a tritone and how is it depicted in the script?
-A tritone is a musical interval that spans three whole tones and is depicted in the script as a perfect bisection in the circle of notes, representing a dissonant pair.
How do the shapes of triangle, square, and isosceles relate to chords in the script's explanation?
-In the script, the triangle represents an augmented chord, the square represents a diminished chord or two tritones, and the isosceles shape suggests movement forward, indicating the liminal areas of the musical circle.
What is the significance of the two triangles shape in the context of the script?
-The two triangles shape, when rotated, represents the circle of fifths, which is a fundamental concept in music theory and analysis.
What is the 'circle of fifths' and why is it considered a cornerstone of music theory?
-The circle of fifths is a concept in music theory that organizes notes in a circle, where each note is a fifth away from the last, creating a cycle that revisits all 12 notes. It is considered a cornerstone because it helps in understanding key signatures, modulation, and chord progressions.
Why does the script suggest that the circle of fifths is built on a lie?
-The script suggests that the circle of fifths is built on a lie because the fifth used in music is slightly off from the perfect mathematical ratio of 3/2, causing the circle to actually be a spiral rather than a perfect circle.
What is a Pythagorean comma and how does it relate to the circle of fifths?
-A Pythagorean comma is the difference between 12 perfect fifths and 7 octaves. It relates to the circle of fifths because the circle is off by approximately 24 cents due to the Pythagorean comma, indicating that the circle is not perfect but a spiral.
How does the script encourage the listener to approach music theory?
-The script encourages listeners to view music theory not as a rigid set of rules but as a flexible guide, or 'squishy witchcraft', that can be creatively adapted and expanded upon to create unique musical experiences.

Outlines

00:00

🌕 Alchemy, Music, and the Symbolic Circle

This paragraph explores the symbolic representation of the moon in alchemy and its connection to cycles, particularly in the context of music. It discusses the intuitive understanding of music as movement and the cyclical nature of melodies and harmonies. The journey of a melody is likened to a trip around a circle, with the destination being a note like C. The concept of a tritone, represented by a bisection, is introduced as a dissonant pair within the circle of notes. The paragraph also touches on the symbolism of different shapes in relation to musical chords and the idea that these shapes represent liminal areas within the circle. It concludes with a brief mention of the circle of fifths, a fundamental concept in music theory, and hints at the idea that it may be built on a flawed premise.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Alchemy

Alchemy is an ancient philosophical and protoscientific tradition that aimed to transform base metals into noble ones, such as gold, and to create the elixir of life. In the context of the video, alchemy is used metaphorically to discuss symbolic representations, specifically the symbol for the moon, which is used to introduce the concept of visual representation and cycles in both alchemy and music.

💡Cycle

A cycle refers to a series of events or actions that repeat in a regular, predictable sequence. In the video, the concept of cycles is central to understanding both celestial movements and musical structures. The script mentions the moon's cycle as a symbol and relates it to the cyclical nature of music, where establishing and returning to a 'home' note is a common practice.

💡Melody

Melody is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. The script discusses how a melody is essentially a journey, moving away from and returning to a central note or 'home.' This concept is used to illustrate the cyclical and directional nature of musical composition.

💡Harmony

Harmony refers to the process of combining individual pitches, called notes, to produce a pleasing sound. In the video, harmony is mentioned alongside melody as another aspect of music that can be cyclical, suggesting that harmonies can also involve a sense of movement and return.

💡Circle of Fifths

The Circle of Fifths is a fundamental tool in music theory that shows the relationships between the 12 tones of the chromatic scale. It is arranged in a circle, with each note a fifth above the previous one. The video script uses the Circle of Fifths to illustrate the idea of a spiral rather than a perfect circle, due to the slight discrepancy in the frequency ratio of a fifth.

💡Fifth

In music, a fifth is an interval that spans five notes in a diatonic scale. It is defined by a frequency ratio of 3:2, which is considered harmonious and pleasing to the ear. The script points out that the fifth used in the Circle of Fifths is slightly off from the ideal 3:2 ratio, leading to a Pythagorean comma.

💡Pythagorean Comma

A Pythagorean comma is the difference between 12 perfect fifths and 7 octaves, resulting in a small discrepancy in pitch. The video script mentions this to highlight the imperfection in the Circle of Fifths, which is supposed to return to the original note but instead is off by a small amount.

💡Dissonance

Dissonance is a feeling of tension or unrest produced by certain combinations of musical tones. The script refers to a tritone, which is an interval that has been historically considered dissonant, to illustrate how certain shapes and intervals in music can represent tension and the need for resolution.

💡Augmented Chord

An augmented chord is a type of chord that has a particular structure, with an augmented fifth interval between its root and fifth notes. The video script uses the analogy of a triangle to represent an augmented chord, suggesting that like the shape, the chord has a liminal quality that wants to resolve.

💡Diminished Chord

A diminished chord is a chord with a specific structure that includes a diminished fifth interval. The script compares a square to a diminished chord, indicating that like the shape, the chord represents a state of tension that seeks movement or resolution.

💡Music Theory

Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music, encompassing the mechanisms of musical composition and the rules and conventions through which music is created, performed, and experienced. The video script challenges the notion that music theory is a rigid set of rules, encouraging creativity and the idea that one can 'write their own spells' within the realm of music.

Highlights

In alchemy, the moon is represented with a specific symbol, which is considered strange.

The symbol for the moon is a direct visual reference to the second most obvious cycle in the sky.

Cycles are generally represented with circles, which are the most fundamental and intuitive representation of cycles.

Music is described as movement, with a journey that is often cyclical.

Establishing a home and then traveling away is a common pattern in music, applicable to both harmony and melodies.

A melody that doesn't leave home is just a tone, emphasizing the importance of the journey in music.

Melody can be plotted as a trip around a circle, with the concept of traveling halfway into an octave.

The concept of salt in music theory represents a perfect bisection and a tritone, a dissonant pair.

Different shapes like triangles, squares, and stars correspond to different chords and musical concepts.

Shapes in music theory show liminal areas where it takes tremendous effort to stay.

The tritone, augmented chord, and isosceles shapes have a natural tendency to resolve and move forward.

The circle of fifths is a cornerstone of music theory and analysis, built on the concept of each note being a fifth away from the last.

The circle of fifths is actually a spiral due to a slight discrepancy in the frequency ratio of a fifth.

The notion that music theory is a set of hard-bound rules is debunked as false.

Music is described as 'squishy witchcraft,' emphasizing the flexibility and creativity in music theory.

Encouragement to write one's own musical 'spells' and not to worry about reinventing the wheel.

The importance of having fun and enjoying the creative process in music is highlighted.