This April 2021 Tonalibus update first presents new personal sound samples. Further, it touches on tonality naming as well website improvements. But before that, it announces the integration of additional tonalities into the Tonalibus catalogue. With this emerged the three tonality group classifications Pro (short for progressive), Reg (for regressive), and Core. As the Tonalibus glossary indicates, a Core tonality contains all four corners of the sound temple; and Pro tonalities omit the regressive quart, while Reg tonalities omit the progressive quint.
New personal sound samples
The spring 2021 collection of personal sound samples keeps growing. Further, multiple sound samples came about for each of the newly integrated Core and Pro tonalities (mentioned below). This includes four new scale and sound samples for each of the newly added tonalities.
“Spontaneous Schong Jen Pūjā” — a Core tonality sample — calming
“Progress, No Regress” — a Pro tonalities modulation path — calming
“Happy Sadness or Sad Happiness?” — a contemplative prayer
Also, there is a new spring 2021 cooperation sound sample. Its title is “Roots Reaching for Heaven” and it spans 5:54 featuring the amazing voice of Christina Braun with Ulrico’s 8-string guitar accompaniment. The underlying tonality of this spontaneous improvisation is HexaProMix.
Pro, Reg, and Core tonalities
Tonalibus introduced the tonality classifications Pro, Reg, and Core. These designate and group together specific, partially anchored tonalities. Pro tonalities are only progressively and Reg tonalities only regressively anchored. Core tonalities are progressively but not regressively anchored, except for BlueMix which is fully, i.e. progressively and regressively, anchored.
Pro tonalities include: PentaProMin, HexaProMin, HexaProMix, HexaProMaj, HexaProReach, PentaProLa/PentaIon (pentatonic major), and Lydian (a regular diatonic heptatonality). These, except for the last two, are new in the Tonalibus catalogue as of now.
Reg tonalities are less of a focus for Tonalibus, because their overtone anchoring is less evident. There are three Reg tonalities currently in the catalogue: PentaReg / PentaPhryg (blues minor), BlueUp, and Locrian (a regular diatonic heptatonality).
Core tonalities are fundamental to Tonalibus, because they include all four corners of the sound temple. As a result, they tend towards dissolving tonality and can thus open more freedom in experiencing sound. Newly integrated Core tonalities are PentaCor, HexaCorMix, and HexaCorMaj. While previously already present ones are ReachUpMix, ReachUpMaj, LoReachUpMix, and BlueMix.
The pitches in the lower tetrachord of a Pro tonality anchor in primarily discernible overtones (that are not octaves). These are the quint, major third, and major second. The upper tetrachord remains flexible and provides fascinating, more or less subtly distinct tonalities. In a Reg tonality this manifests inverse. The lower tertrachord is flexible, while the overtone foundation of the upper tetrachord pitches stems from the last past or previous generation in sound progression.
Website and tonality naming improvements
Consistent navigation aides are now available on all tonality pages, including individual and group category pages. Therefore there is much less need for scrolling. Specific portions of a page are now accessible directly from corresponding buttons at the beginning of each page (similar to the three buttons offered as the first thing of this update). Such buttons are also available now on personal sound sample pages. Plus all loops, sound samples that automatically restart at their beginning when reaching their end, are now on dedicated loop pages, no longer interspersed.
The spelling of tonality names has been adjusted by capitalizing the initial letter of each component in a name. As a result it became more evident what the specific elements of a tonality expressed in its name are. For example, PentaIon indicates that this is a pentatonality with a Ionian or as such major orientation. Or LoReachUpMix shows that this is a Reach tonality with the upper tetrachord the Mixolydian type of minor, and that the shifted up Reach step is in the lower tetrachord with the framing half step bellow it lowered below the preceding whole step. Thus a name can express also the complexity of a tonality to some extent.
Conclusion
“Don’t wish for the shining brilliance of the jewel but for the crude roughness of the stone.”
— from verse 39 of the Tao Te Ching 道德经 by Lao Tzu (1972 Diederichs edition, p. 82)
An encouraging note just arrived from Northeast Switzerland. It reads: “Tonalibus is indeed a rich collection, an instructive and experiential resource for spirit, mind, and ear. I will listen to it more.”
Finally, the photo below concludes this April 2021 Tonalibus Update. It shows a remainder of last snow on pear tree flower buds ready to open up and blossom.
Be well and prosper!
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