DhvaniTaranga - Waves of Sounds
Music is Mathematics. Mathematics is Music.
This flash essay is part of a collaborative, constrained-writing challenge undertaken by some members of the Bangalore Substack Writers Group. This month, we used the prompt, ‘MUSIC’. At the bottom of this snippet, you’ll find links to other essays by fellow writers.
“If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.”- John von Neumann
There’s a song playing in the background. The curiosity kicks in. You are so immersed that you understand each meaning of each word in the lyrics. You would die to know the song name and lyrics in detail. Circa 1999. What you would do in that time is get the cassette, check if it is Side A or B. Open the cassette cover and find the lyrics in that. Or you would play the cassette on the Tape recorder and write each lyric by focusing on each word and rewinding if needed. Or play the radio and pray the song comes and then do the same.
Focus was an important part of Life then. Sometime ago , Shazam and you know the song name. Now it is AI. Song Search on the mobile - top menu. Wholesomely , that delayed gratification in the yesteryear was far more exciting than in a click. Knowledge was and is important in any age. Especially in AI age , we have to deeply understand what AI does in the code or in music. Mathematics is there in Music. Fourier Transform. Circle of Fifths. Or Chakra if you are Indian music aficionado.
Curiosity and Focus can lead you anywhere if you and the Universe will. These are things that Music help you with. Also, there is emotion in each Raaga. Music is something which makes the listener emotional in waves of different sounds.
Music is flow-y. It brings about different feelings according to the different stages of life you are in and also different time of the day. Music can make you a better person to empathise with people. It has the power to give you joy and sorrow if you allow it to.
I have learnt different instruments with a teacher and also, self-taught. I have continued my journey with Carnatic Vocal. Somehow, it gives me purpose and gives me joy to be associated with it. I never used to like Heavy metal, but now, sometimes I like it too. It is just a means of expressing self. I didn’t even realise that Music seeked me before I did. It has the power to unite the world. And also, change the world. A person should be able to express, without it, he will be a machine.
—Shwetha Harsha
Music for Mental Health by Shruti Soumya, Same Here
The Singing Neighbour by Rakhi Kurup, Rakhi’s Substack
#18: On Music by Siddhesh Raut, Shana, Ded Shana
Growing Up a Metalhead in Small-Town India by Rajat Gururaj, I came, I saw, I floundered
Morning Raaga by Nidhishree Venugopal General in Her Labyrinth
Enjoyed this, and would love to read your thoughts on the connection between music and mathematics in a larger piece someday! :)
The first para reads like it's from a different lifetime altogether. Thanks for the nostalgia.