Thoughts between Olivier Messiaen and Moody
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Tags: Addons, iTunes, Moody, Mp3, Olivier Messiaen
This year, December 10th, marks the hundredth anniversary of the birth of one of the most famous composers of the last century. Olivier Messiaen, born in Avignon, categorically rejected musical terms such as modes and scales and pursued a different concept: he described associations of colors and music, called synaesthesia in the technical jargon. He based his compositions on this assumption.
A fascinating idea, these color associations. Anyone who has ever studied composition knows the problem of getting behind the diversity of theory and terminology. Perhaps the color metaphors are exactly the missing link that can simplify composing. Away from the inscrutable terminology and towards a more direct expression of what music actually is: feeling and intuition.
But even outside of your own compositions, music is often intellectualised. What criteria do you actually use to listen to music? You use feeling and intuition. You just choose what suits your current taste. However, software tools like iTunes do not organise music according to taste, but rather by artist, style, or title name, from which you can then combine music into your playlist. There has to be a more… intuitive way.
And that is exactly where Moody comes in: a small add-on for iTunes that allows you to tag music according to mood (the tool is no longer available). Then, depending on your preference, you can indulge in your deep depression or exuberant party mood with music that has been automatically selected. Colors serve as a mood visualization – and here the circle closes. Even if the master did not think of it that way with his system, the association was simply obvious to me. And now: listen to Messiaen and install Moody. Jorni out.