The Pillars of Global Music Theory
With this site I aim to investigate areas of music theory, music composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, and other topics that interest me. Sometimes this may simply be a place for me to jot down ideas and resources or I may put in some time to really dig into a topic. Perhaps others will find some use in this collection of articles.
Brandon
Latest Articles on Musical Topics
- Where Nothing Ends: Legato and the Truth of Connection
First Section: The Sound of Vulnerability There is a note. It begins with the press of a key, the weight of a finger, the flow of eternal causality into sound. The vibration swells, full and open, carrying its tone into the room. It lingers, fragile and unguarded, before fading—not into silence, but into the next… Read more: Where Nothing Ends: Legato and the Truth of Connection - Non-Living Sonic Structures: Nature’s Blueprint for Composers
Music has long found inspiration in the natural world, often mimicking its sounds—birdsong, rainfall, or the thunderous roar of waves. But beneath these evocative sounds lie deeper, more profound lessons: the structures and forms that govern natural phenomena. Unlike human-made music, with its reliance on repetition and resolution, natural forces unfold as continuous, transformative events.… Read more: Non-Living Sonic Structures: Nature’s Blueprint for Composers - The Tales of Mande Music: A Storytelling Tradition in Sound
Deep in the heart of West Africa, the music of the Mande people offers more than melodies—it unfolds as living history, oral tradition, and profound cultural memory. Central to this tradition is the griot, or jali, whose role as storyteller, historian, and societal commentator shapes the music’s very essence. Unlike musical traditions organized around harmony… Read more: The Tales of Mande Music: A Storytelling Tradition in Sound - Japanese Gagaku Music: The Timeless Resonance of Nature and Ritual
Among the oldest forms of orchestral music in the world, Japanese Gagaku is a sonic treasure, preserved for over a thousand years. Originating in the imperial courts of Japan, this sacred music weaves together the ethereal and the earthly, offering a meditative experience that resonates with the natural and spiritual world. Unlike many other traditions,… Read more: Japanese Gagaku Music: The Timeless Resonance of Nature and Ritual - The Innovator You Missed: Érik Satie’s Surprising Influence on Modern Music
A Peculiar Pioneer Eric Satie, in the Paris of the late 19th century, was the type of man you might not notice at first glance—a thin figure in a bowler hat, walking alone along the cobbled streets of Montmartre. But look a little closer, and you’d see a world brimming with contradiction. Satie, the Velvet… Read more: The Innovator You Missed: Érik Satie’s Surprising Influence on Modern Music - The Resonant Harmony of Chinese Music: Timbre, Symbolism, and Structure
In the vast soundscape of Chinese music, sound transcends mere entertainment, becoming a bridge between humanity, the cosmos, and nature. The sharp ring of bronze bells, the introspective tones of a guqin, or the bright nasal quality of an opera singer’s voice—each timbre carries profound symbolic meaning, reflecting the philosophical underpinnings of Confucian order and… Read more: The Resonant Harmony of Chinese Music: Timbre, Symbolism, and Structure - Mongolian Throat Singing: The Voice as a Portal to Nature and Spirit
Imagine a voice that doesn’t just sing but transforms into a complex kaleidoscope of tones—a deep, grounding drone with high, ethereal overtones spiraling above. This is the world of Mongolian throat singing, or khoomei, a tradition that turns the human voice into a resonant chamber capable of summoning the sounds of nature and connecting to… Read more: Mongolian Throat Singing: The Voice as a Portal to Nature and Spirit - Aboriginal Music: Sound as Connection, Memory, and Map
Aboriginal music, particularly that of the Indigenous peoples of Australia, embodies a profound integration of art, spirituality, and the natural world. At its heart lies a connection to the land and the ancestral stories embedded within it, offering a framework for thinking about music that goes far beyond entertainment. It is a means of navigation,… Read more: Aboriginal Music: Sound as Connection, Memory, and Map - Indian Classical Music: A Journey Through Time, Emotion, and Structure
In Indian classical music, every performance feels like stepping into a vast, timeless landscape where melody and rhythm are not merely companions but co-creators. At the heart of this tradition lies a profound interplay between raga, the melodic framework, and tala, the rhythmic cycle. Together, they create a music that is at once deeply structured… Read more: Indian Classical Music: A Journey Through Time, Emotion, and Structure - Time, Quality, Intention: Returning to the Essence of Music
There was an evening in Florence that feels as vivid now as the moment it happened. It was a night of rain, the kind that hushes a city, softening its machines and animals. The rock-streets glistened, reflecting hazy pools of light from the lanterns overhead. I’d wandered aimlessly until I decided on getting some dinner… Read more: Time, Quality, Intention: Returning to the Essence of Music