March 14 is Pi day. It occurs on the 14 day of the 3rd month, which is equal to Pi’s approximation 3.14. On Pi day, we appreciate the number and eat a slice of delicious pie. Pi is the mathematical constant defined as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. The circle of fifths in music theory is the geometric shape of a circle. The circumference of a circle is equal to C = 2𝜋r. In the Stephon Alexander book called The Jazz of Physics: The Link between Music and the Structure of the Universe. Alexander explains how the jazz master saxophonist John Coltrane developed a more advanced version of the circle of fifths, called ‘The Coltrane Circle’. The Coltrane Circle diagram is the same geometric pattern that inspired Albert Einstein’s quantum theory. Today is also the 142nd birthday of the famous artist-scientist Albert Einstein, who was born March 14, 1879.
To learn more about this in-depth, watch Stephon Alexander: The Jazz of Physics TED Talk.
Citations
Alexander, S. (2016). The Jazz of Physics: The Link between the Music and the Structure of the Universe.
Happy Pi Day Image, (Rudder, 2021)
Bonnell, E. (2019, 11 27). John Coltrane challenged racial discrimination in his post-bop hits. Welcome to Jazz.FM91. Retrieved March 14, 2021, from https://jazz.fm/john-coltrane-challenges-racial-discrimination-in-his-post-bop-hit-recordings-alabama-and-equinox/
Jones, J. (2017, April 12). John Coltrane Draws a Picture Illustrating the Mathematics of Music. Open Culture. Retrieved March 14, 2021, from https://www.openculture.com/2017/04/the-tone-circle-john-coltrane-drew-to-illustrate-the-theory-behind-his-most-famous-compositions-1967.html
Pi day. (2021, March 14). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day
Rudder, C. (2021, March 13). (Happy Pi Day Image) Pi Day: 6 Raspberry Pi projects that sweeten remote work. The Enterprisers Project. Retrieved March 14, 2021, from https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2021/3/pi-day-6-raspberry-pi-projectsSix Interesting Musical Facts About Albert Einstein. (2015, Apr 29). C Muse. Retrieved March 14, 2021, from https://www.cmuse.org/interesting-musical-facts-about-albert-einstein/
