The tonality of the month for July/August 2023 is PhrygReach or Neapolitan minor — a fully anchored Reach heptatonality and prime Na tonality. The name indicates that the lower tetrachord has a Phrygian tonal character and that a Reach step (augmented second) is in the upper tetrachord. Two axes are at symmetrical angles. Its harmonically least anchored pitch, the major seventh, contributes much to this tonality’s flavoring. It is essential in framing the fundamental or octave between two successive half steps. Plus it forms the Reach step and the second axis. But most of all, the major seventh adds a distinct major flavored contrast to the underlying, otherwise very pronounced Phrygian or minor structure.
You may enjoy a sound sample or tonality loop as sound mantra for contemplation or meditation. This can help with upliftment, purification, and focusing. Or it could simply be used as soothing background sound for relaxation and regeneration. If you care to hum, chant, or sing along, you could use a spiritually charged syllable like HU or Ōṃ / Aum ॐ, or another mantra syllable that suits you.
This June 2023 Tonalibus update highlights the current release of “Once upon a time” as new single and announces the conclusion of playlist “Tonalibus J”. Further, it refers to MixoBal or HexaNaMix, a derivative tonality of unique harmonic balance, that triggered a fascinating discovery, a new view of the harmonics cycle with its inherent geometry, angles, symmetries, and axes.
Playlist J “Welcome to relative freedom” is now complete with 13 pieces spanning 88 minutes, including “Back in open time and space” — at long last (below), which is one of two May recordings also available under May-June 2023 sounds.
MixoBal or HexaNaMix, a new derivative tonality
A few details on MixoBal or HexaNaMix, a Mixolydian derivative, are in the posting tonality of the month of June 2023. While listed as derivative in the overview chart of tonalities by lower and upper Tetrachord and as Na tonality, as derivative it is not detailed in the Tonalibus catalogue of tonalities. But it led to the following depiction of the harmonics cycle.
Harmonics cycle — fusion of regularity and irregularity
The tonality of the month of June 2023 is MixoBal or HexaNaMix, a hexatonality derivative of Mixolydian, HexaNaTriMix, or PentaNaMix. The prefix “Mixo” not only points to Mixolydian, it also underlines the mixture of progressive and regressive harmonic expansion. Strikingly, this appears in complete balance, building on the series of natural harmonics or overtones. This derivative tonality spreads equally in both directions out from the fundamental over a fully cohesive segment of the harmonics series. As such, MixoBal or HexaNaMix is also a prime Na(tural harmonics) tonality.
As defined in the Tonalibus glossary, derivative tonalities do not show up in detail in the Tonalibus catalogue of anchored tonalities. A common form of derivative tonalities is a slight mutation of one or more catalogued tonalities. MixoBal or HexaNaMix is equivalent to Mixolydian without second, HexaNaTriMix with the quart instead of the tritone, or PentaNaMix with the quart (fourth).
Tonality of the month: MixoBal or HexaNaMix — references
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You may enjoy a sound sample or tonality loop as sound mantra for contemplation or meditation. This can help with upliftment, purification, and focusing. Or it could simply be used as soothing background sound for relaxation and regeneration. If you care to hum, chant, or sing along, you could use a spiritually charged syllable like HU or Ōṃ / Aum ॐ, or another mantra syllable that suits you.
This May 2023 Tonalibus update presents some live recordings from the April Tonalibus concert “Drawing circles, waves and spirals”. Further, this update announces the release of a new single “Once upon a time” in June. And it highlights playlist “Tonalibus J”, which has grown at so far unprecedented speed to over ten pieces already.
Live recordings from the April Tonalibus concert near Bern
Below you find four live recordings from the Tonalibus concert entitled “Drawing circles, waves and spirals” on April 23. The Meikirch cultural commission had sponsored and publicized it. This led to a pretty full hall of participants that included also a number of friends and family traveling some distance to attend.
Release of “Once upon a time” as single in June — for T
On June 11, “Once upon a time” — again and still on the way (below) will be globally released on many music platforms. This recent studio recording uses an old theme newly revived for the above mentioned Tonalibus concert.
May 2023 Tonalibus playlist update
Playlist J started at the very end of March. By now it already grew to eleven recordings, including the ones above and “Spring sunbeam chirping” (below), a revival of the selje flute used in the above mentioned Tonalibus concert.
Ruminating peacefully on the other side of concert
The tonality of the month of May 2023 is HexaNa — a prime Na tonality and hexatonality. Hexatonalities consist of six different pitches to the octave. One may see hexatonalities as heptatonalities with a missing pitch. This makes hexatonalities more or less ambiguous and positions them in between two or more other tonalities. Thus, they can facilitate modulations. HexaNa is equivalent to HeptaNa/LydAeolian or LydDorian/ClusterPro without a sixth, or to PentaNa/PentaPro with the tritone. Prime Na(tural harmonics) tonalities contain a more or less consecutive segment of the series of natural harmonics or overtones.
You may enjoy a sound sample or tonality loop as sound mantra for contemplation or meditation. This can help with upliftment, purification, and focusing. Or it could simply be used as soothing background sound for relaxation and regeneration. If you care to hum, chant, or sing along, you could use a spiritually charged syllable like HU or Ōṃ / Aum ॐ, or another mantra syllable that suits you.