Shadow Key from Spiral Garden by Spiral Garden

Shadow Key

This song engages with the question of tuning and perception, and with the prescribed roles of discipleship, astrology, and crayons. What if there were only 12 kinds of people, 12 colors, 12 notes?

The secret and serendipitous "shadow key" arose from the two xenharmonic JI modes of the scale below. It just so happened that harmonics 6-8-9 of 16/11 and X/6-8-9 from 12/11 are within about 3 cents of 12EDO, when 1/1 (11/11) is 60Hz.

In other words, this song uses two microtonal modes, but held within them is an almost indistinguishable "shadow key" of C Major (in A440). This happened *by accident*, so of course, the song needed to end there as if awaking from this microtonal soundscape into normal C Major ..."It was a all a dream..."

The lyrics and two vocal parts overlap in a hocket such that each time we hear the same syllables they are the same pitches, but are recontextualized as parts of other words. The pitches as well are heard in both the microtonal and shadow key (C Major) contexts. Notice how their meaning is changed when combined and overlayed.

Meter: [11/4 and 11/16] (with 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10/16 truncated to 11/4)

60Hz = 11th Harmonic & 12/11

Scale: 1/1, (33/32, not used), 12/11, 11/10, 11/9, 14/11, 11/8, *16/11*, 11/7, 18/11, 20/11, *11/6*
*The two modes of the scale that are used emphasize these tonics.

This is (6,7,8,9,10,11)/11 & 11/(6,7,8,9,10,11) with 11/11 as 60Hz, a cross-shaped structure from a Partch Tonality Diamond, if you like.

The melody pitches occur at exactly the corresponding rhythm division (both Utonal). For example, the 11/9 and 18/11 both occur at 9/16 rhythmic intervals. The 14/11 and 11/7 both occur at 7/16 rhythmic intervals, all truncated at each 11/4 bar.

Tracklist

2.	Shadow Key	4:45

Lyrics

Shadow Key

So, all…
Now, all...

So, all in [a] box
Light all still locked
Now edge all in Twelve
Sound all itself

We’re following in line to a shadow
When it’s fluttering in rhyme, we keep ourselves
So, we’re packing the world to only Twelve
When it’s echoing around, we’ll sing for it

‘Sew’ true colors…
Some can still be un–
–known, being not only Twelve
Now ring it yourself

‘Fall’ing in shadow
When fluttering rhythm keep[s] shining out
So far seen through only these
Now echoing as they sing again

So, that’s all the colors inside [a (dow)] cray’n box, while
Light filtered through all other hues can still be unlocked
Now the [l]e’ge[nds] all are being told in only these Twelve, while
Sound beyond the [w]all[s] ringing free, hear it for yourself

[Now!]
When life it’s fluttering rhythm in rhyme, can we keep ourselves out?
So far we’re packing up the world into only these Twelve
When it’s echoing as a round, we’ll sing for it again

So, we’re following all in line into a shadow box
When light it’s fluttering all in rhyme, still we keep ourselves locked
So, now we’re packaging all the world into only Twelve
When sound it’s echoing all around, it will sing for itself

Credits

from Spiral Garden, released April 7, 2025
Ben Hjertmann: Vocals, Jackson 7-String 11-Limit Guitar, Melodica,
12EDO Tele guitar (Shadow Key of C Major)

Emmalee Hunnicutt: Vocals, Fretless Bass

Graham Thomason: Synth

Jonathan Snead: 2.3.7.11-Limit Viola da Gamba

Will Beasley: Drums

Daniel Richardson: Soprano Sax

Music and Lyrics composed by Ben Hjertmann, 2021-2025
Copyright Ben Hjertmann (KLWHNAA Publishing, ASCAP), all rights reserved.

Recording, Production, Electronics, Mixing, and Mastering by Ben Hjertmann, Earhead Studios, Mars Hill, NC, except saxophones recorded by Daniel Richardson, near Los Angeles, CA.

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