The Presence of Color in Musical Tone: Synaesthesia (3/7/25)
As I look out the window, I see a bright, sunny day, with the snow and ice mostly gone and the dormant vegetation appearing a bit dull and grey. The absence of seeing much color has been noticeable. In our clothing as well, we may not be quite ready for the pastels and bright colors to wear that will come with the warmer weather.
Similarly, I think about color in the world of music as particular to qualities of tone. We think about pale and quiet tones when we might be playing a soft minor piece, or we might think of deep jewel tones when we play a particularly heart-wrenching sad melody. Our happy, bright, fast pieces might be more brilliant with short staccato notes and a tone color that brings out the brighter upper harmonics of the notes.
We use the focus on tone as central to expressing our inner hearts. When the tone is beautiful and the ability to produce these sounds effortlessly, we are touched by the music and the talent of the performer. This can be a piece like Mary Had a Little Lamb, the Faure Elegie, or a solo Bach suite. Tone may be said to be intangible, but I truly believe human beings can hear the differences in tone. Reactions may be different, but tone quality is audible to the human ear and also measurable by spectrum analyzers.
As I was looking into what researchers might have analyzed regarding measuring sound waves in order to analyze tone quality, I came across a scientific article that addressed the practicalities of analyzing tone. One potential benefit is in comparing two instruments to purchase. A concrete measurement can be made regarding the presence of richer tone quality of one instrument over another. Another benefit is understanding how to properly record a performance since location of the microphones and the number of microphones being used will affect the various sound waves and what will be picked up in the recording. The article pointed out that sound "radiation" or the emission of the waves into the air will affect the auditory experience. Hence, purchasing expensive orchestra seats at Symphony Hall does have its merits compared to being seated in the second balcony.
Sound waves are measurable in the same way as light waves are measurable which yield our various rainbows of color. This reminded me of a particular phenomenon that I had learned about where certain persons' brains interpret sound waves as if they were light waves. This is a condition known as Synesthesia where people see auras of color when listening to music.
This is all to say that when we teach music, tone is very important! The scientific research around tone and its measurement and perception also explains the ability to have "perfect pitch" or the ability to name the pitch upon hearing an isolated single note. This ability is very convenient, but not essential to being a very good musician. Furthermore, "perfect pitch" can be taught through repetition and practice, exactly as Dr. Suzuki said about developing ability.
As I sit here and can hear various instruments being played, I no longer feel the absence of color. Thinking about why we teach awareness of tone has filled my senses with the presence of the various colors of tones around me. I do not have receptors like persons with Synesthesia, but I do feel the fullness and richness of my surroundings even while I wait for the visual signs of nature's colors and the beginning of Spring.