The Mathematical Basis of Blue - Score Video

Commissioned and premiered by the Plattsburgh Community Clarinet Choir
August, 2024, Plattsburgh, New York
The Mathematical Basis Of The Arts is a revolutionary book written by the influential composer and artist
Joseph Schillinger in 1943. In this study, he analyzes the math behind all art, visual and musical. Much of this
book has gone over my head, but it is an amazing read, and goes to show how complicated the math behind
art and music really is. As I was reading this book, one of Schilinger's illustrations caught my eye. "Key Blue,"
a painting consisting of multiple interlocking circles of blue. each intersection creates a variety of hues, from
deep purples, to faint baby blues. This image is where I got the idea for The Mathematical Basis of Blue. I was
inspired to write a piece that reflected each hue of blue presented in this painting, seeing the connection
between color and music.
Joeseph Schillinger, the painter of the piece, was a fantastic and well-respected composer, teaching
composers like Benny Goodman, George Gershwin, and Earle Brown. His meticulous and mathematical way of
analyzing and writing music is so opposite to my own, that I thought it would be a great experiment to take
his highly analytical way of writing music, and flipping it on its head. The Mathematical Basis of Blue was
created with no math, just simply the idea of different shades of blue. Each movement is a different shade,
taking inspiration from the color, darkness, and saturation of each color. The darkness of midnight purple
becomes a forboding contrabass melody, the light, jovial blue becomes a charming and cheeky rondo. Each
movement is an experiment turning color into music.
for more information, contact the composer at [e-mail]