Shannon Novak: Semitone Shift

Preview 5.30 pm Tuesday 8 March.

When a musician moves from one note to another in a twelve note scale, they move or shift one semitone upward or downward. When playing a major triad or major chord made of three notes, shifting the middle note in the triad downward one semitone changes the major triad into a minor triad. It is a subtle change that has a profound effect on the emotional experience for the listener; the major triad evokes more positive emotions whilst the minor triad elicits largely negative emotions. It is this tension between a positive and negative emotional experience created by sleight of hand that is explored in “Semitone Shift”.

The use of shape and colour build on previous studies that explored the musical note as a multi-dimensional entity. The interaction between curves and straight lines represent the more measurable aspect of the musical note; its pitch, loudness, and duration. Colours represent the more immeasurable content of the musical note – its emotional content as inherited from the musician who performs in a positive or negative emotional state.

Event listed by Pierre Peeters

View their other events or contact promoter