Ruth Vulto Gaube

Tone intervals in form

Tone intervals

Unison
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Octave

Each tone interval has its own character. To me it is normal to experience the step from one tone to the other in space and form. But will it also be possible for me to make this step and the character connected to the interval visible to others?

In which way are the steps between the tones, the proportions and the character connected to each other?
Can sounds be seen?
How can I share my synesthetic experience with others?
And will there perhaps be a connection between the character of the tone intervals and character of the 7 classical planets, in the way they were seen by the old philosophers and alchemists?
In my search for information about intervals I noticed astonishing analogies.

Unison

Prime

Resting in itself.
No dynamic in a specific direction
Uniform radiance in all directions

Planet	: Saturn
Metal	: Lead
Shape	: smooth, even vaulting with a tangible potential

Second

Seconde

First step, still hesitating and unfinished
Compared with a walk it is lifting up your leg to take a step - a situation, which cannot be kept

Planet	: Sun
Metal	: Gold
Shape	: broken up vaulting, the rupture is not on a harmonious place, unsatisfying

Third

Terts

First encouter between the tone below and above
Will there be an exchange? A harmonic and dynamic connection?

Planet	: Moon
Metal	: Silver
Shape	: Two halves slide to each other, dynamic surfaces with related movement

Fourth

Kwart

Confrontational, agitating, offensive, strong and alarming

Planet	: Mars
Metal	: Iron
Shape	: massive shape with four edges, which come together to one point

Fifth

Kwint

Friendly, active and harmonic shape, which follows the rules of the golden ratio

Planet	: Mercury
Metal	: Mercury
Shape	: very harmonic, dynamic, rising, following the golden ratio

Sixth

Sext

Metamorphic fourth - calling, activating, expectant, full of joy, uprising and dissonant

Planet	: Jupiter
Metal	: Tin
Shape	: very dynamic, uprising, stretched

Seventh

Septime

Seducing, dangerous, dissonant, forcing to change, leaping for a big jump

Planet	: Venus
Metal	: Copper
Shape	: pushing, unbalanced, unbearable state, no more intensification possible, the next step has to be rest

Octave

Elevated unison - the circle is closed.

I would like the relief of clay to be worked out in bronze. Hung in a frame the metal will be able to produce a sound. Underneath the metal relief-disc (with a diameter of about 75 cm) I want to put a monochord to make it possible to play and hear the interval, which is given form in bronze.

Images of the process

Besides working at the tone intervals I just have finished a large sculpture from alder wood showing my view of singing. It is about 2.40 meters high and to me it has to express the standing up straight, enlarging yourself, while you are singing. Giving space to the sound within you, which wants to come out. Meanwhile you are listening to everything surrounding you.
Because I am taking it to the international Biennale in Florence this December I call it "Cantare".

Cantare

Also this summer I have made a pendant to the stone sculpture "sound (deep tone)" I finished last year - the "sound (high tone)".

Those two sculptures are the materialisation of a tone as I experience it.
The deep sound is made from Belgian blue stone and the high sound is made from Italian marble.

Att the moment I am working on a sculpture of Belgian Blue Stone, which is almost 2 meters long. It´s theme is "song" or "song fragment".
I want to show this sculpture at the Sculpture Biennale in Copenhagen this august.