Featuring Chemistry and Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 7
This post was originally going to be some extended analogy between science and music, about how knowing contrapuntal rules can help you memorize pieces better, just like how knowing various physical rules can help you derive formulas easier. In the end, I don’t think the connection was super interesting beyond the obvious. I’ll still write a bit about it, but it’s mostly so I can actually post these animations that took me forever to make.
The scientific rule I want to look at is from chemistry. Take a look (click the play button):
I think all good art follows some kind of rule (even chaos can be a rule), and we can use that rule to make sense of the piece not only for memorization, but also for interpretation.
I chose an example from Chopin because he studied and carefully internalized Bach’s works, mixing contrapuntal integrity with harmony, dance, and melodies to create a style that was distinctly his own. On the surface, many works seem to have a homophonic texture – melody with accompaniment. But, further analysis reveals the effortless way in which he incorporates counterpoint into his signature texture. These rules grant predictability to how the chords are voiced and how the accompaniment is arranged. This predictability is not bad. Rather, each note is in its perfect place; there is logic to it, such that Chopin could not have written it more perfectly.
Hope you enjoyed those little animations. They were made using https://greensock.com/gsap and https://mithril.js.org/. I also learned that it’s quite convoluted trying to add your own scripts and stylesheets to WordPress.
Not having much experience in science, I’ll have to save this and go over it, probably a few more times. Probably helpful that I have played this piece and love it. Your blogs are always welcome.
Hope you’re enjoying teaching, as well as your performing career.
Happy Holidays!
Glad to see your continued interested in the the various intersections of art, music, science and STEAM. Cheers, Sean!
Have you read “Consilience” by E.O Wilson. There is only one science and every aspect of human experience fits into it: science, arts, technology. It’s all one. I love how you merged the chemistry of molecule formation with chord voicing. I tell my students (economics) that it is only when you have connected concepts that they become yours and have meaning for you. (I also loved you performance of Scriabin’s fifth sonata at the Cliburn.)