Category: Tonality of the month/moment

The tonality of the month is PentaMinMix / PentaEolDor — an extended pentatonality derivative.

PentaMinMix / PentaEolDor, an extended pentatonality derivative, is the tonality of this month of June 2024. We can see this derivative as a reduction of Aeolian or Dorian without quart and no sixth. This makes it a pentatonality that includes the major second, minor third, quint, and minor seventh. Its pattern is thus 1-3-4-8-11-1 or Sa Re ga Pa ni Sa. There is a doubly augmented second or double whole step from the minor third to the quint. And further, an augmented second from the quint to the minor seventh. A more extensive sound sample of PentaMinMix / PentaEolDor is the piece “իմաստուն Imastun survivors” — calling for silence below (and also in May 2024 sounds).

PentaLoPhryg / Bairagi — another extended pentatonality derivative

PentaMinMix / PentaEolDor was inspired by the recognition of Bairagi, a Hindustani classical raga a.k.a. Bairagi Bhairav. Its feel is close to and its pitches identical to ReachMin / Phrygian dominant without third and no sixth, which is also the case for ReachMix or Phrygian. Therefore, its pattern is 1-2-6-8-11-1 or Sa re ma Pa ni Sa. Thus, a doubly augmented second or double whole step leads from the minor second to the quart. Tonalibus, according to its own nomenclature, named this extended pentatonality derivative PentaLoPhryg. An extensive sound sample of this tonality derivative is the piece “Bairagi Bhairav raag” — a first raga interpretation below (and also in February 2024 sounds).

Tonality derivatives show up in tonalities overview tables. But there are no further details on them in the Tonalibus catalogue.

The tonality of the month is Lydian — a regular diatonic heptatonality.

Lydian, a partially anchored regular diatonic heptatonality and Pro(gressive) tonality, is the tonality of this month of May 2024. It differs by only one pitch from the well known major scale by including the triton instead of the quart. This gives it a very distinct and somewhat lofty feel. On piano keyboards, it corresponds to the white keys with F as fundamental. This tonality is one of Gregorian or church modes. However, it appears in many different musical styles, not just in Gregorian chant, ancient Greek and medieval, but also in romantic and modern music, including jazz and popular tunes. Because of its wide spread use in Polish folk music, some refer to it as Polish mode.

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 Ōṃ / Aum ॐ, or HU, or another mantra syllable that suits you.

The tonality of the month is ReachMix — a Reach or harmonic heptatonality.

ReachMix, a fully anchored Reach heptatonality, is the tonality of this month of April 2024. This tonality combines a DorMixolydian upper with a regular Reach lower tetrachord. ReachMix is similar to the tonality of the previous month, ReachMin, except that the sixth is now major instead of minor. The basic melodic element (pakad) of the Bairagi Bhairav raga presented last month with ReachMin is still somewhat noticeable in the new ReachMix sound sample above. However, there is a heartfelt expansion to an additional parallel more elaborate resolution pattern onto the lower quint. This highlights the rounded balancing quality of the DorMixolydian upper tetrachord.

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 Ōṃ / Aum ॐ, or HU, or another mantra syllable that suits you.

The tonality of the month is ReachMin or Phrygian dominant — a Reach or harmonic heptatonality.

ReachMin or Phrygian dominant, a fully anchored Reach heptatonality, is the tonality of this month of March 2024. It combines a PhrygAeolian upper with a regular Reach lower tetrachord. That is the interval of an augmented second from its minor second to its major third. Thus, it juxtaposes strong but well rounded anchored contrasts. Among its notes, the major third is contrasting. The enriching, uplifting, and assertive quality of this pitch arises from being one of the first harmonics of the tonic. While the minor second and minor sixth give ReachMin its distinct Phrygian character.

ReachMin and raga Bairagi Bhairav (with Sa re ma Pa ni)

What triggered ReachMin to come forth again at this time is that it is the closest in the Tonalibus catalogue to what constitutes the basis of Bairagi Bhairav, a raga in Hindustani classical music that apparently has been considered to be one of if not the most important raga for centuries. A current effort of Tonalibus is to correlate its catalogue of tonalities with Indian ragas. This now appears to become a most fruitful undertaking. A first gem thus discovered is this raga, Bairagi Bhairav. Its feel is close to and its pitches identical to ReachMin without its third and sixth. Thus a new pentatonality with striking harmonic qualities emerges that is so far not in the Tonalibus catalogue and at least a fascinating derivative of ReachMin. More on the correlation of Tonalibus and ragas to come.

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 Ōṃ / Aum ॐ, or HU, or another mantra syllable that suits you.

The tonality of the month is HexaBluNaReach — a BluNa / (Lo)Mid hexatonality.

HexaBluNaReach is the tonality of this month of February 2024. It is one of several most recent additions to the Tonalibus catalogue of anchored tonalities. Its name indicates that there are three Reach steps. The initial one off the fundamental leads to the minor third, and the second one over the middle of the scale leads from the major third to the quint. These are characteristic of BluNa tonalities. Plus there is a regular Reach step in the upper tetrachord. A Reach step spans three half steps, a.k.a augmented second.

HexaBluNaReach offers a fascinating symmetry of individual half steps framing each Reach step. There are no whole steps. This tonality is part of the BluNa / (Lo)Mid group of hexatonalities that newly qualified for the Tonalibus catalogue. From them spin off MidReach and LoMidReach heptatonality derivatives. These are more delicate to balance and use. As derivatives, they are not detailed in the catalogue but listed in the table below.

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 Ōṃ / Aum ॐ, or HU, or another mantra syllable that suits you.