About Me
THE TWO SIDED SHAPE - basic feminine geometry
A great many of us on Earth play the guitar, the piano, the violin, or some other stringed musical apparatus. As many of my students will already know, my interests lie not so much with the modern guitar as a popular instrument, but with the STRING itself and its historic movement through time.
Unknown to a vast majority of the current human population, the shape of a vibrating string is called a VESICA PISCES (Vessel of the Fish) - also spelled VESICA PISCIS. It is the shape formed by two overlapping circles or curves (radii), and can exist in either 2 or 3 dimentions. (See shaded area above)
The VESICA PISCES represents the 'missing' two-sided-shape, filling the gap between the circle and the triangle.
1 = Circle
2 = VESICA PISCES
3 = Triangle
4 = Square
5 = Pentagon
6 = Hexagon
7 = Heptagon
8 = Octagon
9 = Nonagon
10 = Decagon
- etc.
Eventually, as we add more and more sides, this series will return to the circle - O - a long-standing symbol for the highest universal intelligence -- described often by humans as "God", "Theos", "Jehova", "RA (the Sun god)", "Allah (the Moon god)", "I AM", etc. -- "Alpha and Omega" - "The beginning and the end".
Strangely, most textbooks and websites devoted to constructive geometry fail to recognize the VESICA PISCES - as if it did not exist!
VESICA PISCES is the name for the shape of an 'American' football (or Rugby ball), the surfboard, the canoe (and many other boats), vocal chords (which can also be triangular), cats' pupils, the spinning skipping rope, the birth canal, and the outline of the human eye. The VESICA PISCES is easily seen in a great many leaves, petals, and grasses, in surgical incisions, and insect wings. It is also seen in the cross section of a magnifying glass (technically known as a double convex lens element).
You may ask yourself: "How could I not already know about this shape!?" ... "Why wasn't I taught this in primary school, along with the letters of the alphabet, colours, numbers, etc!?" -- These, indeed, are very good questions! It seems so basic and fundamental. Yet, strangely, this very real shape remains unknown to so many - including most educators!
If you are learning about the VESICA PISCES for the first time here, don't worry, you're NOT alone. Just remember from now on that every time you hear the sound of a string, or a voice, or the vibrating skin of a drum, you are hearing the sound of the VESICA PISCES.
AN INTERESTING NOTE: The very subtle quivering of your ear drums in response to sound also forms the shape of the VESICA PISCES. It is also the foundation shape of the lenses in your eyes that are assisting you to read these words.
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OUR COMMONALITY
It was most probably an early "primitive" hunter - an archer - who first discovered the mysterious sounds that exist in the taut string. Early humans discovered that the MASCULINE geometry of the stretched string (a strait line) produced waves of sound when 'plucked' or 'bowed', transforming the string's shape to the FEMININE (curved) geometry of the VESICA PISCES.
From the moment of that initial sonic awakening the potentials for musical language were and ARE staggering! The guitar, of course, is but one variation in a long line of devices constructed through history - and prehistory - to harness and project this incredible magic.
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A BIT ABOUT MYSELF
Musically, I'm very much a self-taught person, persevering without formal training - I have simply learned to listen. As a human living in what we've agreed to call the '20th Century', I'm ever curious about the incredible sphere in which all known life is interacting, and am driven by a deep love for the mysterious, haunting sounds of strings. My belief is that the entire human story - from its earliest beginnings onward - is, somehow, encoded in the vibrations of musical strings - and that through these vibrations we can each touch freedom.
The music you are listening to here was largely improvised - spoken - like a free-flowing conversation. This music was recorded in a state of deep personal introspection - it was/is very much felt.
I play acoustic and electric guitars primarily but also collect and play stringed instruments from cultures other than my own. It is my wish that they will eventually all play a role in my music.
My best hope is for this forum to be a place for creating alliances with other players and lovers of the string around the world - in whatever variety the music and the structure takes. All are welcome to connect here.
There are always the two simple, timeless guidelines: BEGIN and CONTINUE
Many thanks for listening!
Taras Kovaliv - small town, Ontario, Canada
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Some of you may know that I've been a professional photojournalist for most of my adult life. The past several years of transition, however, have been spent living in relative seclusion with my guitars -- learning and teaching. To see a collection of my photographic work kindly visit:
www.TarasKovalivPhotographer.com
Respectfully, I have no affiliation whatsoever with any musical group identifying themselves as the band name VESICA PISCES -- nor do I consider this shape to be a piece of intellectual 'property'. My interest is purely in the physical movements which create the sounds of my strings!
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Please note: To maintain focus on the content of this site, I can not accept promotional materials attached to comments - nor shall I send mine to others. Photos, however, are most welcome.
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