Modality

Summary

Dominique Pagani uses the term in two senses. In the domain of knowledge, he refers to the postulates of modality, which order the possible, that is, what can be stated without contradiction; the real, which is confirmed by experience; and the necessary, which is the highest degree of knowledge1. He speaks of it mainly in connection with music. There, the first meaning of "mode" is the scale, and tonal music is only a particular case of modal music, one that has kept only the C mode2. He stresses that almost all the world's music is modal, across history and geography alike. This includes all traditional European music, which can be recognised by its drone effect34. For him, the difference between modal and tonal is neither geographical nor ethnic: it separates old music from modern music5. He considers traditional modality substantialist and calls for a liberated modality that takes in what individual freedom has achieved6.

1. 1#9.11 How can sciences of history be real?7 Jan 2021 · 11:29
2. 2#11 Modal and tonal music24 Jan 2021 · 7:34
3. 3#11 Modal and tonal music24 Jan 2021 · 32:43
4. 4From Bach to the Pygmies22 Jun 2022 · 3:25
5. 5From Bach to the Pygmies22 Jun 2022 · 5:40
6. 6#11 Modal and tonal music24 Jan 2021 · 1:52:23

Summary produced automatically from 6 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.