Over the last few weeks I’ve been exploring the work of Erv Wilson (1928-2016), a music theorist (and gardener) who spent his life exploring and mapping a vast universe of beautiful musical-mathematical structures.
Wilson worked almost completely outside of academia, focused on directly serving the creativity of composers and listeners. Speaking as a person who’s creative flow never seems to feel completely accessible until I can see, touch, and breathe the organizational structure of my materials, he cuts a saint-like figure in my mind.
I believe it’s only a matter of time before his work is more widely known.
I like to think that Erv would have encouraged composers to learn by doing — working toward comprehension of his concepts through the act of actively creating music with them. In that spirit, I started working on a study to explore some of his tuning concepts (specifically the scale structures he called “moments of symmetry”).
You maybe recognize the first few measures if you happen to know a previous piece of mine, but wow… that didn’t last long. This one took on a life of its own real quick.
Excited to write more about what I’ve discovered in the coming weeks. For now, hope you enjoy the music.
Edit: Here’s the follow up post:
Click through to learn about moments of symmetry and some tools for growing them in your garden:
How to Harvest Scales
Ever stop to really look up close at all those pianos and synthesizers growing in your garden? I do. Fascinating plants. I’m awe-struck every time, and every time I wonder: why are their leaves so often in groups of five, seven, and twelve?
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