A new keyboard study by Chris P. Thompson, Spiraling explores a non-circular intonation: rather than squeezing or stretching (“tempering”) intervals to join into the familiar cycle of twelve notes, they are rationally tuned as in the natural harmonic series — this results in a subtly more pure intonation, as well as the possibility of large-scale structural “drift.”

A rational approach to intonation can turn a progression of chords that we visualize as a circle into a spiral — it feels cyclical, but is steadily floating away from its starting point. Compositionally, I find this to be useful in creating an effect of rumination, where cycles of rationally connected thoughts can cover a vast distance, or even trace an emotional spiral.

This recording is realized using the Hammersmith Piano sample library by Sonic Couture. The score, as well as some more detailed context (and an analysis of last weeks post about the related work by Ben Johnston), are in the attached Substack post.

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