The Unbelievable Complexities of Music: Lenses, Ancient and Modern

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May 8, 2025

Dive into the ancient and modern perspectives of music, exploring its complex relationship with memory and emotion. Discover how concepts like Harmonia and Melos reveal music as a balance of relationships in life. The interplay of notes is examined, shedding light on music's transformative power. Delve into the emotional architecture of song structures, the philosophical essence of music, and its role in shaping human experience. Uncover the universal quest for truth that resonates through sound, connecting the past and future.

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INSIGHT

Ancient Greek Harmony Concept

Ancient Greeks viewed melos as melody involving harmonic relationships and balance between notes.
Harmony originally meant proportion and balance, not stacking chords as in modern music.

INSIGHT

Music Harmonizes Body and Soul

Boethius argued music's principles realign and harmonize soul, body, and mind.
Music resonates with us because our being shares the same structural ratios as those in melody.

ANECDOTE

Pineapple Opening Metaphor

Karen shared a video about an unconventional way to open a pineapple by twisting and pulling.
This illustrates that natural processes have inherent harmony and balance to be discovered rather than forcibly dissected.

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On Music

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Aristides Quintilianus

Aristides Quintilianus's "On Music" is a significant treatise on music theory from the late antiquity period. It explores the relationship between music and ethics, examining the effects of different musical modes on the human character. The work delves into the psychological and emotional impact of music, connecting musical experiences to broader philosophical and ethical concerns. "On Music" offers a unique perspective on the power of music to shape human behavior and emotions, providing insights into the ancient understanding of music's role in society and individual life. Its detailed analysis of musical modes and their effects remains a valuable contribution to the history of music theory.

Harmonics

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Aristoxenus

Aristoxenus's Harmonics is a foundational text in music theory, exploring the nature of melody, harmony, and rhythm. It challenges the purely mathematical approach of the Pythagoreans, emphasizing the importance of sensory experience and perception in understanding music. The work delves into the concept of 'melos,' exploring the relationships between notes and their functions within a musical context. Aristoxenus's ideas significantly influenced later music theorists and continue to be relevant in contemporary discussions of music theory and aesthetics. His emphasis on the interplay of sensory experience and rational analysis remains a cornerstone of musical understanding.

De musica

Boethius

Boethius's 'De Musica' is a significant work in the history of music theory, bridging ancient Greek thought with medieval scholarship. It explores the mathematical ratios underlying musical harmony and connects these ratios to broader philosophical concepts of order and proportion in the universe. The book examines the effects of music on the human soul and body, drawing on ancient sources and offering a comprehensive overview of musical theory and practice. 'De Musica' served as a crucial text for centuries, shaping musical understanding and influencing the development of music theory in the Middle Ages and beyond. Its influence on Western music theory is undeniable.

Time, Music, Time, and Modernity

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Jeremy Begbie

This Is Your Brain on Music

The Science of a Human Obsession

Daniel Levitin

In this book, Daniel J. Levitin delves into the relationship between music and the human brain. He argues that music is fundamental to human nature, possibly even more so than language. Levitin draws on the latest research and uses musical examples from Mozart to Van Halen to explain how composers create pleasurable effects, why we are emotionally attached to the music of our youth, and the role of practice in musical expertise. He also explores why certain jingles get stuck in our heads and how music coordinates various parts of the brain. The book is an insightful investigation into the science behind our obsession with music.