4 ms·
> Elaborate harmonies are just not a thing anymore. I think one way to categorize music is harmony focused (European classical music) or rhythm focused (Africa
by 323 4y ago
> Elaborate harmonies are just not a thing anymore.
I think one way to categorize music is harmony focused (European classical music) or rhythm focused (African tribal music).
In the last 30 years we've seen a big shift towards more rhythm based music, especially in electronic music.
I don't think it's just a fad, I think it's deeper, rhythm can put the brain in a trance like state, this is harder to do with harmonies.
- zigzag312 4y agoMy theory is that when European classical music was being written, there were no loudspeakers, amplifiers, effects or digital instruments. To fill whole auditable frequency spectrum multiple instruments were needed to play multiple pitches at once. Reason for this is that most instruments could only fill part of the spectrum. Organ being one notable exception. Still, even on organ, to fill the whole spectrum, multiple notes need to be played at the same time. So, harmony was very important to produce a full sound. Today, a single synth can fill the whole frequency spectrum by playing just one note. So, to have a full sound, harmonies aren't necessary anymore.
- adamc 4y agoYes, except that I think people relate to voices differently than other instruments; maybe our brains lock onto human voices in a special way. So harmonies that are sung still have a different effect.
- zigzag312 4y agoI agree, we definitely have more fundamental connection to a human voice than other instruments.