Jazz and Well-Being

A major topic in music psychology is how music influences subconscious emotions. However, most studies have focused on the positive effects of music, with research on negative effects being rarer. Jazz, in particular, can evoke ambivalent emotions.

In this regard, a study conducted by the University of Austin, Texas, involved approximately 40,804 students who were randomly exposed to John Coltrane’s Mars and Blue Train. Anxiety levels were measured before and after listening, using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). The results were analyzed through an independent two-sample test.

The analysis indicated a significant increase in anxiety for the unstructured piece Mars, compared to the structured piece Blue Train.

The study suggests that the lack of musical structure may increase anxiety. Factors such as the absence of continuous monitoring and the personal biases of the participants may have influenced the results, but the large number of participants contributed to the validity of the findings. The study opens new perspectives for future research on the role of musical structure in the enjoyment of music and its effects on listeners, and it could contribute to the development of music therapy for treating anxiety.

Jazz Music Animates

In the 1930s, Hollywood witnessed a fascinating convergence between cartoons and jazz music, two art forms that profoundly influenced the popular culture of the time. It was a period of innovation and transformation in both fields, and their collaboration created a unique and memorable experience for audiences.

Cartoons in the 1930s

The 1930s represented a golden era for American animation, where studios began experimenting with new techniques and styles. This decade was marked by the release of iconic characters and animated series that set the industry’s standards.

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse, created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, became a global cultural symbol during this time. Launched in 1928 with Steamboat Willie, the Mickey Mouse series was one of the first animated films to integrate synchronized music. This innovation was essential to its success and popularity.

Silly Symphonies

Disney also created the Silly Symphonies series, combining animation with music in an innovative way. These shorts not only explored different musical styles but were also among the first animations made in Technicolor, bringing vibrant colors and a new visual dimension.

Betty Boop

Created by Max Fleischer, the Betty Boop animations became known for their flapper style and for integrating live jazz music, featuring famous orchestras and musicians in its shorts. Betty Boop often appeared alongside jazz musicians, reflecting the strong influence of jazz on animation during that period.

Popeye the Sailor

Initially a comic strip character, Popeye was adapted into animated films in the 1930s, with his lifestyle being strongly influenced by the jazz culture of the time. The female character, Olive, was depicted in the flapper style.

Tom and Jerry

In Tom and Jerry, music is not just a backdrop but plays an active role in storytelling and setting the mood. Every movement of the characters is often perfectly synchronized with the music, creating an animated choreography that is both visual and auditory. This type of close synchronization is known as “Mickey Mousing” and is a technique often used in animation to emphasize action or amplify comedy.

The Pink Panther

The main theme of The Pink Panther, composed by Henry Mancini, is one of the most recognizable jazz pieces in the world. This classic jazz track is characterized by a simple yet captivating melody, supported by a relaxed swing rhythm and the use of instruments like the saxophone, piano, and double bass. Mancini perfectly captured the essence of the character—mysterious yet playful—through the music.

The collaboration between cartoons and jazz music in the 1930s left a lasting legacy, influencing not only the evolution of animation but also the public’s perception of jazz. This synergy helped popularize both art forms and set a precedent for future collaborations between music and animation. The cartoons of the time continued to reflect and integrate musical influences, while jazz became an essential part of pop culture and the entertainment industry.

JAZZ IN MATHEMATICS

The Symbol

F=1.618…

Humanity has always sought patterns. They make us feel comfortable. They give us meaning and order.

The concept of the golden ratio was discovered in antiquity by the ancient Greeks and is attributed to Phidias, a renowned sculptor and architect of the time. Phidias used the golden ratio in works such as the statue of the goddess Athena in the Parthenon on the Acropolis.

The importance of the golden ratio lies in the fact that it naturally occurs in many aspects of our world, including human anatomy and nature. For example, by dividing the length of the arm by the height of the body, the value of the golden ratio can be obtained.

The ratio has been used throughout history in art, architecture, and mathematics, being associated with beauty and harmony. The Pyramids of Giza, the Parthenon, the works of architects Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe, as well as the works of artists such as Da Vinci, Dürer, Gris, Mondrian, and Dali, are built on the principles of the golden ratio.

In music, this ratio appears in rhythms and melodic structures of composers like Bartók, Debussy, Stravinsky, Manzoni, and Beethoven.

John Coltrane – Giant Steps (1959)
John Coltrane never hid his deep interest in mathematics, philosophy, and spirituality, and the piece Giant Steps is considered an example of his mathematical approach to jazz. The piece stands out for its complex chord changes, which can be analyzed in terms of geometric or proportional relationships. The peaks of the melody and how it flows between sections follow the golden ratio.
Miles Davis – So What (1959)
Featured on Miles Davis’ album Kind of Blue, the piece So What is a true landmark of modal jazz. The structure of the piece presents clear divisions between sections, where climactic moments often occur around the 0.618 (or 61.8%) mark of the melody. The golden ratio can be interpreted here in how the sections (the main theme, solos, transitions) flow, with critical transitions or peak solos.
Bill Evans – Peace Piece (1958)
Bill Evans is renowned for his complex harmonic structures and elaborate improvisations. Peace Piece is a minimalist but emotionally charged piano solo with subtle yet powerful dynamics. The way tension builds in this piece, reaching a climax around 62% of its duration, suggests the use of the golden ratio as a natural point of tension and release in the structure of the melody.

In music, this numerical fraction is used to create a sense of natural balance in composition, structure, and phrasing.

The golden ratio can be applied to the total length of a piece. By dividing the length of a piece by 1.618, composers can identify the moment when a climax, transition, or significant change should occur to have the maximum emotional or structural impact. For example, if a song lasts 5 minutes, the golden ratio suggests that an important change in the structure of the piece, or a climax, could occur around the 3:05 mark (5 ÷ 1.618 = ~3.09).
In addition to timing, the golden ratio can be applied to the length of musical phrases. A phrase can be structured so that a key moment in the piece — a melodic peak, a rhythmic change, or a harmonic shift — occurs at a point set according to this numerical ratio. Thus, a musical phrase of 10 measures might present a crucial chord change around the 6th measure, or more precisely, around measure 6.18.

Many musical pieces, especially classical, symphonic, and jazz compositions, have distinct sections (e.g., exposition, development, and recapitulation in classical music), and composers often use the golden ratio to divide these sections in a balanced way. In a piece with three sections (e.g., A-B-A), the transition from one section to another could occur at the point determined by this numerical fraction. In a sonata, the development section could begin at 61.8% of the exposition.

In music, the buildup of tension and its release are essential to creating emotional depth. The golden ratio can be used to strategically place the point of maximum tension and the point of release in a way that feels natural. In a film soundtrack or a dramatic symphony, the climax or point of maximum emotion could be placed according to the calculation of the golden ratio, making the listener’s experience much more satisfying.

Harmonic structures or chord progressions can follow the golden ratio by timing key changes or modulations according to this numerical ratio. This can make the harmonic structure of a piece seem organic. A key change or a transition to a dominant chord could occur at the golden ratio point in a composition, highlighting the importance of the progression.