Hearing music in color, a Jimi Hendrix experience.
brianlux
Posts: 42,068
Sometime back in around 1968 or so I had recently purchased a new copy of The Jimi Hendrix Experience's second album, "Axis: Bold as Love". Not long after acquiring the album, I was lying on the floor listening to this record with my eyes closed, and I began to see the music in my head as pulsating shapes of colors- Jimi's guitar was shades of one color (red, if I remember correctly), Noel's bass shades of another and Mitch's drums shades of a third color. This had never happened before and (unfortunately) hasn't since, but I've always been fascinated by that experience.
And now, all these years later, I read this last night from Jimi Hendrix, A Brother's Story, written by Jimi's brother, Leon Hendrix. p. 184 (2012, Thomas Dunne Books).
Jimi was fascinated by the connection of the seven notes in a musical scale to the seven colors of the rainbow. Not to mention the interesting fact that red, yellow, and blue- the first, third, and fifth colors of the rainbow- are primary colors, while root, third, and fifth- the first, third, and fifth notes of a scale- make up a major chord. If there is such a thing as "hearing in color" or "playing in color" that is exactly what my brother was intent on accomplishing (or it may even be said that he had already accomplished it by then). Regardless, he was interested in practicing it. Jimi felt that if he couldn't physically hold on to the music, he could at least describe it in color and somehow make it three dimensional.
And now, all these years later, I read this last night from Jimi Hendrix, A Brother's Story, written by Jimi's brother, Leon Hendrix. p. 184 (2012, Thomas Dunne Books).
Jimi was fascinated by the connection of the seven notes in a musical scale to the seven colors of the rainbow. Not to mention the interesting fact that red, yellow, and blue- the first, third, and fifth colors of the rainbow- are primary colors, while root, third, and fifth- the first, third, and fifth notes of a scale- make up a major chord. If there is such a thing as "hearing in color" or "playing in color" that is exactly what my brother was intent on accomplishing (or it may even be said that he had already accomplished it by then). Regardless, he was interested in practicing it. Jimi felt that if he couldn't physically hold on to the music, he could at least describe it in color and somehow make it three dimensional.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.
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Until i saw a show on PBS about a decade ago, i kinda thought it was brought about by flashbacks
(not me!) and they can be, but its not the gist of the condition.
it still happens once in a while, especially if listening when really tired
i don't know about the colors of the rainbow being assigned in my case, its just random, and pretty psychedelic
and it seems to impart a lot of feeling and meaning to the listening experience
i didn't know it happened for anyone else that i know~:D
its called synethesia; seeing sound, hearing colors, tasting shapes, etc.
if you get a chance to read up on it, its fascinating!
i find it even more interesting that my daughter equates certain types of things that she sees, with feelings and emotions.
its hard to describe. for instance, a painting of a main street full of not so well kept row houses would cause an emotional reaction she classifies as "generic" but not the type of generic you and I might think of. This generic "feeling" is a very strong uncomfortable feeling. Well, that fell, flat, since I can't describe it, cuz it doesn't happen to me. It seems as if things that that don't bother her as much as they used to, or, she's just learn to live with it.
Makes me wonder if these things run in families?
1913 painting by Wassily Kandinsky, an artist who may have had synesthesia
Check out this book:
http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=1748
Update...answer to my own question:
from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia
jo
http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
"How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
"Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~
And Kandinsky! Yes! Great work!
Do you still have these experiences Bri?
They used to scare me, but I treasure them now.
I also sometimes have little waking dreams when listening to music if I just relax and sort of unintentionally meditate. I will never ever forget one night listening to the Dead's Terrapin Station, and "dreaming" that Jerry and I, both dressed in 1800's gala ball attire, long tails for him, ball gown with bustle and all, for me ... dancing the night away to this music being played by a royal orchestra at the palace. Wow, what a trip! Except it wasn't. Excellent experience. i thought I was losing my mind at the time, but apparently not...well, depends on who you ask perhaps
I have them also from time to time, not nearly as elaborate as that one
Try listening with headphones on your way to sleep, with an empty head if you can, and see what happens.
I've never talked about these things much, cuz people tend you think you're crazy ya know
So glad to have the chance here
jo
http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
"How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
"Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~
Unfortunately, Jo, I've had no other hearing music as color experiences.
I like your Jerry daydream. Sounds like fun!
The one thing that I experience all the time is having (besides constant tinnitus
My other extraordinary Jimi experience can about a week after he died. In a dream, I saw him play behind a podium with just a single spot on him. He was playing a new solo piece and it was just me and him other than the spot light, darkness all around. I wish I could have recorded it but of course, could not.
Ah, the power of music!
Oh, and check this out- some pretty cool pics here:
http://www.jambase.com/Articles/20238/W ... tock-10.25
that looks fabulous!~
leslie west, also one of my first shows, i believe with foghat in philly
most of my early shows were Dead (and related) shows, but we made room for some others in between
jo
http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
"How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
"Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~
No- I was in SF. Almost went to Altamont but glad I didn't!
Oh- would love to see/have seen Leslie West!
Anyway, interested to hear more stories or see if anyone else chimes in here.
i have to read that!
is your thing like hearing a radio play in the distance but you can't quite figure out what its playing? very faint?
cuz that happens to me a LOT. i am learning here in this thread, and some reading I'm doing otherwise, that I have a lot of this sort of stuff happening. I never really thought much about it, cuz its just how it is for me. The synesthesia I've looked into in the past, I find it fascinating. I have never considered the hearing the radio thing to be anything at all. I always just brush it off to it being an actual radio somewhere, but until recently, we lived in the middle of nowhere...and the same radio played there as plays here.
I'm very interested to find out what your "hearing music" sounds like and feels like to you Jamie.
And Brian, again, thank you so much for starting this thread, I'm so happy to finally be talking to people about this synesthesia and more.~
BTW Leslie West was with Mountain at the time, but I'm pretty sure he played with a different project. The show was at the Spectrum in Philly in the early 70s and (Remember the Spectrum site tells me I'm mistaken, which I often am...funny how you remember things... I often get the combination of bands at old concerts confused) .. but I could have sworn that one of the Winters Bros' bands was also on the bill. Either way I also got to see both of the bros. Johnny and Edgar, separately, at one point at the Spectrum. The 70s was an AWESOME time for the Spectrum and Tower Theater shows in Philly. Mostly Dead shows
jo
http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
"How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
"Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~
DO you have tinnitus or hearing damage?
(OK to say N.O.Y.D.B.
I only ask because I do and sometimes I hear faint music in the distance when I know there is none. I also often hear soft but deep bass notes at late at night. For a long time I tried tracking down the sound but can't hear it outside and nothing is running inside the house so it must be my ears.
My pleasure!
Yes, but you know they say youth is wasted on the young.
Tinnitus....ughhh. what a bother. I take an aspirin every day and just that little bit causes it. If I don't take it for a while, it will stop. But I will put up with it for the sake of health.
One thing really nice about it is that I get to hear those lovely Crickets chirping the night away even when its 10 below zero outside
Crickets are always singing to me
jo
http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
"How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
"Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~