Upon reviewing these readings, it seems that the composition of music and the theory therein reflects nature. This may be a function of music as a medium to represent the surrounding world as are visual art and literature. The comparisons Helmholtz makes between musical concepts and natural occurrences such as moving water support this notion. The decisiveness of using a certain gesture also echoes the permanence of actions performed upon nature: a grown organism cannot regress as a melody’s gestural component cannot shift.
Questions:
What would music sound like if the foundations of its development over time were of an intention to break away from nature? Would artistic movements tend toward order, contrasting with the real chain of musical change?
Why does gesture possess such finality? Is there a psychological component to examining melody that prevents us from acknowledging fluid gesture?
Music 26 Blog: Ryan Hyun 