A "perfect fifth" is one of the three so-called "perfect intervals." The
others are the perfect fourth and the octave. (Those names wouldn't mean
much to non-Western musicians, but, they'd still have the same intervals-
they'd just call 'em something else.)
Here's how you hear it. Take a string, any string (like on a guitar or
violin.) Play it. The string vibrates, depending on its size, tautness, and
whatnot, at a certain frequency. (Say for example, 440 times a second.)
This produces a pitch, (in this case, the pitch A.)
Now, take your finger and press down on the string in its exact middle,
effectively cutting it in half. Because it's half as large, it will vibrate
twice as fast when you hit it, or 880 times a second. It will make a
different sound than the original. The difference between the first sound
and the second sound is called the perfect octave. (Why is it called an
octave if you're just cutting it in half? Again, it has to do with the
evolution of Western music theory.)
If you move your finger so that you press 1/3rd of the string, you'll get a
perfect fifth. And, if you divide it by 1/4th, you'll get the perfect 4th.
(Of course, another way to hear it is to listen to the opening notes of
John
Williams' Star Wars theme. There are three repeated notes, then a perfect
4th, then a perfect fifth. An octave is heard in the first two notes of
"Over the Rainbow.")
These mathematics blew the minds of the ancient Chinese, Greeks, and
whatnot, and proved to them that the universe is intelligently designed.
How
could basic fractions sound so good otherwise?
I agree with them; It's part of what makes music so spiritual, and it's why
Beethoven once said, "Music is a higher revelation than philosophy."
(stepping down from dais)
ex-professor Steve.
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