What if we would divide the length of notes not in rational ratios, but in the golden ratio? If we, instead of halving and quartering notes, divided them in the ratio 1:φ where φ=1.6180339887...?
Using the basis φ one can build a place-value number system that also contains the whole numbers:
A little less systematically, the following little piece has come about:
(mp3, wav)
Here I distributed a melody over two measures
of equal length, which are iteratedly subdivided in the ratio 1:φ or φ:1.
The notes all have lengths proportional to powers of φ.
A steadily accelerating (or decelerating) sequence of notes, where each note is shorter (or longer) than the preceding one by a factor of φ,
also fits in this length scheme, as φ0 + φ-1 + φ-2 + φ-3 + φ-4 + ...= φ2.
Hence the following melody, consisting of three measures
, the first and last of which have equal length and contain an accelerating and a decelerating
tone sequence respectively, whereas the middle measure is shorter by a factor of φ and contains an interlude:
(mp3, wav)