Triadic Transformations: Group Structure in Western Musical Harmony by Matt Conforti '24

Triadic Transformations: Group Structure in Western Musical Harmony by Matt Conforti ’24, Monday March 11, 1:00 – 1:50pm, North Science Building 113, Wachenheim, Mathematics Colloquium

The harmonic foundation of Western Classical music is the triad. A triad is a three-note chord that comes in two main varieties: major or minor. While the vast majority of Western Modern music is also triadic, the functional nature of these harmonies is nebulous, making it hard to analyze with traditional tools from the Classical period. In this talk, we will explore algebraic structures latent in Western Classical and Modern music that allow us to bridge the sonorous gap between the two styles. We’ll discuss Julian Hooks’ (Uniform) Triadic Transformations, which allows us to produce beautiful, new pieces of music.