Pythagoras Dug Over the Hypotenuse | Works

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Pythagoras (c. 570–495 BC) has been credited with many influential discoveries within fields such as mathematics, music, astronomy, and medicine. In the field of music, one of these is the Pythagorean tuning, in which all pitches in the scale are derived from the frequency ratio 3:2 – the perfect fifth.

In this work, I explore an alternative intonation system based on the fifth rather than the octave; instead of dividing the octave into 12 equal steps, I divide the fifth (or rather the frequency ratio 3:2) into 5 equal steps. This gives rise to new timbres, which I combine with the traditional Western 12-tone-based intonation system, by placing them next to each other in order to create contrasts.

Pythagoras (ca 570–495 f.Kr.) har tillskrivits många inflytelserika upptäckter inom ämnen såsom matematik, musik, astronomi och medicin. Inom ämnet musik är en av dessa den pythagoreiska stämningen, där alla tonhöjder i skalan härrör från frekvensförhållandet 3:2 – den rena kvinten.

I detta verk utforskar jag ett alternativt intonationssystem baserat på kvinten snarare än oktaven; istället för att dela upp oktaven i 12 lika stora steg delar jag upp kvinten (eller snarare frekvensförhållandet 3:2) i 5 lika stora steg. Detta ger upphov till nya klanger, vilka jag kombinerar med det västerländska traditionella 12-tonsbaserade intonationssystemet, genom att placera dessa intill varandra i syfte att skapa kontraster.

Work type: Composition
Year: 2018
Titles: Pythagoras Dug Over the Hypotenuse (en); Pythagoras snavade över hypotenusan (sv)
Genres: Art music
Duration: 4′ 33″
Number of movements: 1
Instrumentation: Solo; Full instrumentation (1 musician)

Violin

Recordings (1)

Pythagoras Dug Over the Hypotenuse (feat. Peter Sheppard Skærved)

Roles: Composer
Release date: 2019-02-15
Duration: 4′ 18″
Genres: Art music
Featured works: Pythagoras Dug Over the Hypotenuse
Featured events: En mosaik av violinmusik | Lund Contemporary 2019
Credits: Peter Sheppard Skærved (violinist)

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Performances (2)

first performanceEn mosaik av violinmusik | Lund Contemporary 2019: 2019-02-10 16:00 UTC+01; The Chapel Hall, Palaestra et Odeum, Lund University, Lund (SE); Violinist: Peter Sheppard Skærved

Concert with Peter Sheppard Skærved: 2019-03-16 18:00 UTC+01; St. John's Church, Malmö (SE); Violinist: Peter Sheppard Skærved, event organizer: Tongeneration