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Clock Harmonisphere
Mirrors and Symmetry in Music in the
Harmonisphere
There is symmetry and mirrored pairs in harmonispheres
Each line on the harmonisphere measures two intervals, depending upon which
note is on top (Lorimer)
Example: The line that measures up a minor third (three semitones) also
measures down a major sixth (nine semitones) (Lorimer)
Mirrored pairs
Minor 2nd - Major 7th
Major 2nd - Minor 7th
Minor 3rd - Major 6th
Major 3rd - Minor 6th
Perfect 4th - Perfect 5th
The diminished 5th diminished 5th (mirrors itself)
For Visual
C
B C#
A# D
A D#
G# E
G F
F#
Mirrors In Piano Keys & Harmonispheres
Symmetry is seen on piano keys, but it is also seen in harmonispheres
Draw a line once down the center of the sphere, and then 5 times
horizontally (connecting opposite notes)
These mirrors are the same as they would be on the piano keys
Creating a C Major Scale With The
Harmonisphere
Looking at the harmonisphere from the last slide, if we were to leave out the
black keys and connect the white keys to the center, we would create a C
Major scale.
Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do
Translating Information to the Piano
The 7 white notes from the harmonisphere
on the piano create
3 Major chords
3 minors chords
1 diminished chord
When the mirrors are played together, the majors mirror the minors, and the
diminished chord mirrors itself
Chords on Harmonisphere
The chords on the harmonisphere have the same mirror combinations as the
piano
Creates triangles
B diminished (vii)
chord it is its own
mirror
Works Cited