THE HARMONIC PATH - WALKING MUSICALLY

A PROJECT FOR THE RITTNER HORN in Renon/Ritten Collalbo/Klobenstein South Tyrol
BY ALBERT MAYR 

Dear hikers,

along the path that leads from the mountain station to the small dale before the Unterhornhaus you find installed little coloured boards with fractions. What do they mean? The boards subdivide that path according to the principle of the harmonic series, with 1/8 as the shortest segment. Walking musically and one cannot hear anything? If you are interested in the relation between the concept of inaudible musics and this project you can find some information in the next section. For the moment here are some suggestions for using the Harmonic Path, if you feel like experimenting a different approach to the environment.

The sporting version:
You choose, for instance, the subdivision by 7; the first 1/7 of the path you walk briskly, the second 1/7 you walk slowly, the third one briskly, and so on.

The contemplative version:

You choose, for instance, the subdivision by 3; in the first 1/3 you focus on the environment, on whatever you can see, hear, smell; in the second 1/3 you concentrate on yourself and elaborate the various sensations; in the last 1/3 you open again your eyes, ears and nose.

The rhythmic conversation (for a group):

You choose, for instance, the subdivision by 4; during the first 1/4 you talk to each other; in the second 1/4 you remain silent; in the third 1/4 you speak; and in the last 1/4 you stay silent.

These are some suggestions. Everybody can create his/her personal version. Have fun!

The boards were designed by Theresia Mittersteiner, Art School „Cademia", Gröden/Val Gardena .

About inaudible musics
According to the Pythagorean tradition that was alive in the West up to the Renaissance, there exist three kinds of music:

- musica mundana which consists of the natural cycles (the motions of the heavenly bodies,
  the alternation of the seasons, etc.);

- musica humana which - if we express it in contemporary terminology - manifests itself in
   the chronobiological and chronopsychological cycles of the healthy human being;

- and finally musica instrumentalis that corresponds to our familiar notion of music.

Within this extended concept of music the harmonical Pythagoreism plays an important role. According to this tradition the ratios of the harmonic series (1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4.....) and the other ratios resulting from them (such as 2/3, 3/4, 4/5......) are considered the main ordering principle in the universe. In Western music this ordering principle is particularly important as it reflects the distribution of the overtones in the sounds we consider musical.

The discipline called Research on the Harmonical Fundamentals aims at discovering this principle in the dispositions and distributions in nature and in works created by man.

In spite of some theoretical reservations (which shall not be discussed here) I always found this approach to music and the world fascinating. In my work I have used it so far in time-related pieces: a graphic piece, CALENDARIO ARMONICO, and two sound works, HORA HARMONICA and DIES HARMONICA.

The project THE HARMONIC PATH aims at applying the harmonical ordering to the spatio-temporal field, in this case to the rhythmic structuring of walking and, if the 'performers' are open to it, to the relation with the environment, according to the concepts of musica mundana and humana described above.

Albert Mayr TIME DESIGN C.P. 18106 50129 Firenze Tel. 055 579075 / 338 4236429
e-mail: timedesign@technet.it - www.musicsoftime.info

Walking time: 20 Min.