The Laws Of Music

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Originally posted by dixxyman
When you delve into the intracacies of music composition you will often find the Fibonaci sequence in the composition...1 2 3 5 8 13 etc. This is related to the Golden ratio.
While some compositions are strictly penned with the sequqnce in mind it happens that the most pleasing to aficionados is/are passages that relate to the sequence.
In that realm it has been said that the most haunting/beautiful 24 note passage is the bugle call "Taps". I have not tried to relate that to Fibonici orGolden Ratio
Dixxyman

Interesting! I can't imagine hearing taps and not associating it with death and mourning though : ( But I do seem to remember liking it a lot the first times I heard it in my early childhood. Really it is a lot like dixie music if you were to speed up the tempo! That stuff is great, I've been really interested in rag time and two-step rhythms also (add that to modern accoustical possibilities & omg!!). So here's the secret little known fact, in and of itself way more imporant than isolated talent or emotion, though it encompases them both:
Just as melody is derived from mathematical proportions and harmony is derived from melody (for soundwaves have frequencies which means they are a variation in intensity of sensation over a period of time)-- Rhythm is also derived from harmony! I'm convinced one of the main flaws in late 20th century music is an attempt to cut this corner and get the rhythm (harmonic accents) straight from the proportions, but not as they actually are over time, just as they appear written on sheetmusic or held loosely as an abstract concept (or an undefined emotion). Same with harmonies and melodies and all aspects of performance & composition. It's that same point you made in another post about the analytic-synthetic dichotomy, dixxy. Music composed as a-priori floating abstract is a shot in the dark.
But these ideas are true. I was afraid of them at first, I was afraid my love for music was delusion and I would crush the joy if I tried to grasp and understand it and that ignorance was bliss. But now I love it more than I would have ever been capable before, and I'm finally rising above my idols in my own context.. and in fact my hero-worship hasn't suffered but expanded, because now I know exactly why I liked those things I only experienced intuitively before, and I marvel at the brilliance and potential of human beings! Sorry I rant about this forever I hope what I'm saying is relevent to you also.

 

[dixxyman]

Interesting reply. I never thought of taps nor any other bugle call in the context of trad jazz. the closest is "Bugle Call Rag' of the 40's.
The bugle since it has no valve mechanism as other brass instruments can only play the overtones/harmonics of the c scale
and is therefor limited to the notes C,G E,C' for the most part.That restricts the improvisor to the c chord and it's tough not to be able to move off the one chord.
i appreciate your interest in trad jazz. More often familiar hymns are part of a Dixxie outfit 's rep. such as just a Closer Walk, Down by the Riverside, battle hymn of the republic, sweet Sweet Spirit Amazing grace, Old rugged cross and so on.

 

[Empath]

I dont think this poll gives music justice
i believe music is a science that can takes years to master, but can be understood by any one. thats my opinion

 

[creamsoda]

I I TOTALLY agree, Empath. You know, it's going to take me some time to get used to calling you that.
See my dad's a music artist. He's been writing and making music since he was 12 years old, and yes it is a science that takes years of dedication to learn, and master. Everyone can learn alright, it's just that some people have the natural ability to express it and use it better than others.

 

[bold standard]

Originally posted by dixxyman
Interesting reply. I never thought of taps nor any other bugle call in the context of trad jazz. the closest is "Bugle Call Rag' of the 40's.
The bugle since it has no valve mechanism as other brass instruments can only play the overtones/harmonics of the c scale
and is therefor limited to the notes C,G E,C' for the most part.That restricts the improvisor to the c chord and it's tough not to be able to move off the one chord.
i appreciate your interest in trad jazz. More often familiar hymns are part of a Dixxie outfit 's rep. such as just a Closer Walk, Down by the Riverside, battle hymn of the republic, sweet Sweet Spirit Amazing grace, Old rugged cross and so on.

I think an interesting spin on early 20th century pop is 1990's group Seefeel songs like "plainsong". Also "I only said" by My Bloody Valentine is very dixie. Dixie is really interesting because it retains the fast rhythms at slow tempos, because of that certain kind of dissonance they liked, yeah and it is very important to think of the connection between genres and the musical instruments that are used. Another downfall of late 20th/early 21 century music is the diminishing role of studio career musicians, but the curruption of the industry is such that all arists qua individuals play a diminishing role so as to feed the mob as a suicidal act. No Limit Soldiers mentality lol.

 

[dixxyman]

If you can listen to "Take the A train" by Duke Ellington played in slow rhythm...that's beautiful to my ears. Also "Jada" played slowly is like a ballad. There is a cadre of old timers who struggle to keep Trad Jazz alive and well. I note that some teens are being drawn to it. i attended a demo by a Dixxie clarinetist to hi school students and was pleasantly surprised. However, there will never never be another louis Armstrong due to the 'soul" he was able to put into his music which he could draw from his early youth. He spoke to you with his horn and played to you with his voice. i'm beginning to ramble.. The song played back from new orleans' funerals was interestingly "Didn't He Ramble".
DMan

 

[bold standard]

Originally posted by dixxyman
If you can listen to "Take the A train" by Duke Ellington played in slow rhythm...that's beautiful to my ears. Also "Jada" played slowly is like a ballad. There is a cadre of old timers who struggle to keep Trad Jazz alive and well. I note that some teens are being drawn to it. i attended a demo by a Dixxie clarinetist to hi school students and was pleasantly surprised. However, there will never never be another louis Armstrong due to the 'soul" he was able to put into his music which he could draw from his early youth. He spoke to you with his horn and played to you with his voice. i'm beginning to ramble.. The song played back from new orleans' funerals was interestingly "Didn't He Ramble".
DMan

Yeah, exactly, philosophy is what drives art. Philosophy drives culture which shapes the individual's experiences qua member of society. Commercial art is a form of communication. I'm 21 years old, and I see a window for that kind of expression. In fact, I think my generation is starved for it. Not a profane compromise like the hard-rock "swing" bands of the 90s (see the movie "Ghost World" for a funny analogy to that), but an unadulturaded, unapologetic, individualistic, innovative expression of the best within human beings. I do like the early jazz stuff but my absolute favorite music is actually pre-jazz (pre-wwi) turn of the century popular music. Since that time art and culture has deteriorated, but musical equipment and accoustical science has come a very long way. You are correct there will never be another Louis Armstrong, and if it was possible it wouldn't even be desirable since it would take him out of context. But there will be brilliant music again, more brilliant and wonderfull than ever in history, if civilization and human beings are to survive and progress (I think this statement holds validity historically. Legend has it Brahms once lamented the final high point in music, to which Gustav Mahler responded, pointing at a river, "There goes the last wave.")