Thinking Music

Notes on partimenti, musical creativity, improvisation, and learning to think in music.

These essays explore historical traditions of musical training, practical tools for improvisation and composition, and reflections on how musicians learn to create.

How Tones Fit Together, Music Theory Ian Campbell How Tones Fit Together, Music Theory Ian Campbell

How Tones Fit Together — Part Three: Built to Hear Relationships

What do an ancient blacksmith’s forge, a freezing winter day in Winnipeg, and the inner workings of the human ear have in common? More than two thousand years after the legend of Pythagoras, the question that captivated Greek philosophers remains as fascinating as ever: why do some tones seem to belong together?

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