2021 tonal Archives – Page 4 of 7

This May/June 2021 Tonalibus update presents new personal sound samples. It highlights the integration of another tonality into the Tonalibus catalogue. It provides an update on the Fidibus shop. And finally, it highlights Harmonic Experience, a massive book on harmony in music.

New personal sound samples

“Acoustic Scale Acceptance” — a previously rejected tonality

LydDorian / ClusterPro — 8-string guitar — 3:36 — as loop on a separate tab

“Just Be, No More” — an unintended short PentaCor pūjā

PentaCor — 8-string guitar, fujara, crotales, and gongs — 1:20 — contains low sounds — as loop on a separate tab

“Journey Around the Sun” — a circular Core modulation

8-string guitar — 7:08 — modulation: PentaCor, ReachUpMix, Dorian, ReachUpMix, PentaCor — as loop on a separate tab

Another tonality: LydDorian or ClusterPro

A good year ago, during the initial evaluation of tonalities to become part of the Tonalibus catalogue of anchored tonalities, what is known as Lydian dominant or acoustic scale and other names, was rejected because of being only partially anchored and appearing insufficiently harmonious. However, recent study and experimenting with it, now led to its integration into the Tonalibus catalogue after all. Following the current Tonalibus naming convention, being a clustered or melodic heptatonality, its Tonalibus name is LydDorian or ClusterPro.

Recognizing its inherent harmonic intricacy went along with the discovery that its most contrasting two pitches, the tritone and minor seventh, appear more harmonious when initially approached from above, not from below. Then, after introducing them from above, they gradually become also more palatable when approached from below. It was not the tonality that was insufficiently harmonious, but not knowing how to use it harmoniously that caused its previous rejection.

LydDorian / ClusterPro — short sound sample, rhythmic — 8-string guitar — 0:48 — as loop on a separate tab

LydDorian / ClusterPro — short sound sample, calm — 8-string guitar — 1:03 — as loop on a separate tab

Fidibus shop update

Following its suspension in May, the Fidibus shop is now again online. Current offers are sporadic mini-concert sessions and the CD A Symphony of Life and Love. However, Tonalibus exploration courses and individual sound mantras remain on hold for the time of their revision and eventual renewal.

Harmonic Experience by W. A. Mathieu

The full title of this big 563-page book is Harmonic Experience — Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression. The first sentence of the introduction summarizes its contents: “Harmonic Experience describes the full range of harmony, from its fundamental gestures to its most complex expressions, by means of the unifying principle of resonance.” — p. 1

It appears that W. A. Mathieu indeed comprehensively presents and elaborates on some of the same or very similar fundamental concepts of harmony in music that Tonalibus is based upon. However, it will take some time to assess and confirm the extent of this. For now, to provide an initial taste of his approach, here are a few general statements from the introduction to Harmonic Experience:

“Every rule and formulation ever made burns away at the moment of music making. Ultimately everyone makes music intuitively; individual circumstances determine the point at which the music rises above the mind and the intuition takes over.” — p. 5

“The Sufi mystics say, ‘The mind is the willing slave of the heart.’ The key word is willing. The intellect that wills to be in the service of the intuition is powerful and mature — the kind of mind a musician needs in order not to be paralyzed by knowledge. …
You find the balance between heart and mind by asking your heart what it really needs to become musically complete. If the question is clear, your answer will be clear too. Then your mind is finally free to offer service.” — p. 6

“You can’t learn music linearly. Rather, you learn it all at once, a little at a time.” — p. 7

“Sound itself is the teacher of sound.” — p. 9

1997 — Inner Traditions International, Vermont

May 31, 2021May 29, 2022

Tonality of the month: LydDorian or ClusterPro

The June 2021 tonality of the month is LydDorian / ClusterPro — a Cluster / melodic heptatonality.

1) LydDorian / ClusterPro — rhythmic sound sample — 0:49 loop — plays until stopped or you go to another page on this tab.

2) LydDorian / ClusterPro — calm sound sample — 8-string guitar — May 2021 — 1:03 loop

3) LydDorian / ClusterPro — expanded sound sample — 8-string guitar — May 2021 — 3:36 loop

LydDorian or ClusterPro, known also as acoustic scale or Lydian dominant, consists of fascinating harmonic traits. Its most contrasting two pitches are the tritone and minor seventh. They appear more harmonic when initially approached from above, not from below. After introducing them from above, they gradually become more palatable also when approached from below.

This was a personal discovery. It reversed the previous rejection of this so-called acoustic scale from the Tonalibus catalogue of anchored tonalities. Now this tonality became the latest catalogue addition, after discovering its delicate harmonic qualities and intricate anchoring. Before, it had appeared insufficiently harmonious. But the deficiency was because of not seeing its qualities and not knowing how to use them harmoniously.

Finding qualities of harmony

There seems to be some wisdom in this, a valuable lesson of harmony going well beyond music. If something appears insufficiently harmonious, apparently disturbing tones or elements may actually integrate when approaching them form another angle. In the mentioned tonality it was from above instead of from below. Something to contemplate!

You may enjoy a sound sample loop, such as the one of the tonality of the month, as sound mantra for contemplation or meditation, for upliftment, focusing, or simply for relaxation and regeneration as soothing background sound. Further, you could hum or chant along, for example using HU or another mantra syllable, and tune yourself to the fundamental.

Tonality of the month: LydDorian or ClusterPro — Full moon over sunset clouds and Alps, May 2021, Grächwil, Switzerland

April 29, 2021May 29, 2022

Tonality of the month: Dorian

The May 2021 tonality of the month is Dorian — a regular diatonic heptatonality.

1) Dorian — short sound sample loop — 0:26 — plays until stopped or you go to another page on this tab.

2) Dorian — expanded, meditative/contemplative sound sample — February 2021 — 2:34 loop

Dorian, the tonality of the month of May 2021, is the most evenly balanced diatonic heptatonality. Actually it stands right in the very middle between the contrasts of minor and major. Though its tetrachord classifications associate it with minor. Nevertheless, Dorian realizes a most striking balance between regressive and progressive, between major and minor polarities. This shows in the exact symmetry of the interval and pitch distribution matrix of this tonality. And this also reflects in its inherent horizontal harmonic axis. On the piano keyboard, Dorian corresponds to the white keys with D as fundamental.

IMG_3085 cxv - Tonality of the month: Dorian — Sun setting, going down to come up again another day — Eriz, Switzerland — June 2020

April 21, 2021May 29, 2022

Ideas come and go

Ideas come and go. If one acts on them, more of them are sure to follow. Otherwise they go some place else. Like so many things in life, when they are appreciated and welcome, more will come this way. A constant flow, at times however, can be a challenge to keep up with. But then, on the other hand, when it slows down, one tends to quickly wonder, where the flow of inspiration had gone.

Balance can be hard to come by. Even when convinced of the equality of soul. We all have much to learn from each other. However this requires a two-way exchange, a give and take. If too one-sided, which may take a while to figure out, it won’t last for the long run. Or better yet the other way around: For a relation to last, both are needed, give and take in some sort of balance. This is where so many relationships falter; but also what makes so many relations last. It is the quality of love. Or, as the case may be, the withholding thereof. The give and take.

Giving freely leads to receiving freely. Spiritual freedom. Withholding leads to lacking. Love is the key. And action makes it all real, creates one’s individual heaven here now.

Indeed, ideas come and go.

April 18, 2021May 29, 2022

Go on, gone, or goon?

Go on, gone, or goon? Which is it?

The first, go on, is the obvious choice. But how much is it the second, gone, or even the third, goon? When going on, moving on, one leaves much behind. Letting go, detachment, is a key to divine love. It proves its essence. Thus, going on is in the present; gone is in the past. Hanging on to things, one way or another, likely leads to appearing as goon sooner or later to some extent.

Progressive versus regressive is a definite focus, most days. But then, there is the heart, the core. It goes beyond pro and con, or reg as the latter is also called with its backward hold.

For a solid foundation, good anchorage ideally has both, a determined view ahead as well as a sharp but forgiving one back. Then, one can realize a healthy balance. One may call this a fundamental law of harmony that applies across the board, in music and in life.

To keep it simple, it is best to focus on what is, and go on from here now. What has past is gone for good. And getting lost in what may or may not ever be, can make one more or less a goon. So let’s go on, embrace the mantra of life, love, sound, and light! Heaven is here now, in this very moment.

Go on, gone, or goon? — Pear tree flower buds with melting snow, ready to open — April 2021 — Grächwil

Category: 2021 tonal

May/June 2021 Tonalibus Update