SOUVIK CHAKRABORTY
Have you seen the wonderful Colour of Sound
In case you have this knack of seeing or believing shapes and colors with sounds and music , you are probably not overthinking .
Music had intrigued the human mind for time immemorial . It has been a medium for artists to experiment and find newer expressions and manifest new creations . And , many artists , musicians , and filmmakers have collaborated with Synesthetes to create content .
Synesthesia is not completely uncommon , but few people had actually come to know about it consciously . Music is traditionally defined by its timbre and texture , but for someone with this neurological gift , it is a far more diverse experience . Thus , the person may choose to perceive sound , or music through various sensory elements like that of taste and vision !
This is a very emotional expression , and one must not consider this to be a superficial experience of psychedelic or recreational drug . The experience is additive in nature , and often leads to open wonderful avenues of creation . It comes along with other senses and does not inhibit or necessarily deprive of the common perceptions .
When one can hear colors , it is called Chromesthesia ; and this had been a matter of clinical research as well . In this type of Sound synesthesia , one can see shapes and colors – on hearing musical tunes . In short , their ears have the superpower to “ hear ” colors or attribute colors to existing melodies and symphonies .
Since these experiences are personal and mostly involuntary it is needless to say that such qualities can be used for creating higher art or could be used purely for some self-discovery . Scientifically , it lies in an area of “ normal and adaptive perceptual processes , implying a close interrelationship between the different sensory systems ”.
Studies have found that brighter colors are mostly attributed to the trebles and darker shades signify bass . Likewise , a person with synesthesia sees bigger shapes when the music is loud and vice-versa .
Some studies have found that these cases are mostly hereditary and find their manifestation in the same family . However , many have taken it to a level where they want to experience and live the life of a synesthete . Thus , they have taken up mediation and self-coaching to achieve the state .
Scientists have hypothesized that music is perhaps the truest and easily manifested amongst all other experiences of a synesthete . Thus the feeling of images , memories , and deep seated emotion of a regular music lover can be further enhanced through such qualities .
It is interesting to note that the same instruments may find different colors and different speeds of melodies could mean different perceptions altogether .
Incidentally , the word “ Timber ” in German when transliterated means : “ color of the tone .”
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