Study Debunks Pythagoras' Universal Musical Harmonies Theory
A study challenges the traditional idea of universal musical harmonies, finding that the pleasantness of chords is not solely determined by Pythagoras's mathematical ratios. Researchers from the University of Cambridge, Princeton, and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics discovered that slight imperfection in chords is preferred, and the role of mathematical relationships disappears when considering certain unfamiliar musical instruments. The study suggests that there are many more kinds of harmony, encouraging musicians to explore unfamiliar instruments and offering new creative possibilities.