The Science Behind Soundtracks: Math and Technology in Music
It's well known that music is one of the clearest displays of art and emotion ever created, but we can't deny that it has a scientific basis that we can analyze. Mathematics, technology, and various advances in our society have a direct impact on how we perceive music today. The harmony of a piece, the rhythm, and even the structure of a song are full of mathematical patterns, and many composers study them to evoke specific emotions!
Are you freaking out about all this? Well, don't stop here; keep reading to learn the science behind soundtracks:
The use of mathematics in music
Math isn't just a subject that some of us struggled with in school. It's present in our daily lives, in nature, in our homes, even in music! From the organization of time signatures to the arrangement of scales and harmonies, everything is perfectly ordered and measured in a song.
Western music, for example, is based on the mathematical division of time into fractions like 4/4 or 3/4, which structure the rhythm. Sound familiar, right?
These proportions, discovered and made known to all by scientists and philosophers since ancient times, continue to be the basis of musical compositions today.
How did Pythagoras influence music?
Did you know that the philosopher Pythagoras was one of the first to link mathematics with music? That's right, he discovered that strings of the same tension but different lengths create sounds and harmonies equal to simple numerical ratios: for example, 2:1 (octave) or 3:2 (fifth). This study laid the foundation for Western musical theory and the system of scales we have and use today. "Pythagorean tuning" has greatly influenced how we understand and teach music in schools today.
Geometry in musical composition
And not everything is simply mathematical theories! Geometry is also used in music. For example, circle of fifths, is used to organize notes and understand how they relate to each other. In addition, some modern musicians create their works using geometric patterns, as if they were drawing with notes, quite an art!
Importance of mathematics in music
Beyond its usefulness in composing itself, mathematics helps create coherent melodies that support the narrative of songs or soundtracks. For example, increasing the tempo to make something more exciting, or using a specific tempo to create tension.
Science and mathematics in soundtracks
Hans Zimmer, for example, is known for using mathematical sequences to create rhythmic loops. For example, in InceptionZimmer applies the mathematical slowing down of a musical theme to reinforce the idea of dilated time, as we can see in the main theme where he modifies Edith Piaf’s “No, je ne regrette nien.”
Technological innovations in the creation of effects and music
Technology is also an important part of the evolution of music, as it has radically transformed the way it is composed and produced.
Today, composers use digital tools, synthesizers, online melody libraries, and acoustic analysis software to create unique melodies.
Artificial intelligence in soundtrack composition
Artificial intelligence (AI) has entered our lives with a vengeance, and of course, the music industry. Systems like AIVA and OpenAI's Jukebox are capable of "composing" melodies and songs in a very human-like way, based precisely on the mathematical theory we discussed earlier.
Examples of science and mathematics in soundtracks
Some clear examples of the use of mathematics in cinema can be seen in these films:
Interstellar , where Hans Zimmer employs fractal rhythmic structures and temporal modulations that represent the physical concepts of relativity.
The MandalorianHere Ludwig Göransson uses mathematical loops to create a futuristic atmosphere with ethnic roots.
Also in TenetZimmer uses musical palindromes—structures that sound the same backward and forward—reflecting the film's theme of time inversion.
Isn't it super interesting? From now on, every time you encounter a complex operation or don't understand a mathematical theory, you'll see it differently.
We encourage you to train your ear and, at the same time, practice all this theory we've told you about on our #TARAB tour, where you'll find mathematically perfect pieces and can analyze Zimmer's work with "Time" from Origen.
