Depth’s Highs and Lows

It’s already April, and at Experience Writing that means it’s time for NaPoWriMo (National (Global) Poetry Writing Month) and the A-Z Challenge. Continuing this year’s theme, I’m writing about the A to Z of Depth.

Height and Depth may seem contradictory, but “high” is right there in the definition: “of color: high in saturation and low in lightness.” And since that brought up both high and low, I thought we could also look at “Having a low musical pitch or pitch range.”

I figured these were both pretty straight forward concrete definitions of depth, but when I started looking into Color Depth and Musical Depth I found more depth than I expected.

Color Depth

In display technology, Color depth, also bit depth or pixel depth, is a technical term. It is either the number of bits used to indicate a color in a single pixel, or the number of bits for each color component of a single pixel. It can also refer to the number of possible colors that can be displayed or represented in an image on a screen. True Color (24-bit color) is required for photorealistic images and video.

In painting, color depth is using color to create the illusion of a third dimension in a two dimensional image. This is done through
Warm and Cool Colors: 

• Warm colors (like red, orange, yellow) appear closer to the viewer.
• Cool colors (like green, blue, purple) appear to recede into the background, creating a sense of distance.

Value and Contrast: Lighter colors in the foreground and darker colors in the background can create a sense of depth. High contrast (large differences between light and dark values) can draw the viewer’s eye forward, while lower contrast can push areas back. 

Color Intensity and Transparency: More saturated colors in the foreground can create a sense of forward movement, while lighter, more translucent colors can recede.

I really enjoyed this video that talks about aspects of color using colored pencils:

While writing this I listened to the DEEP COLOR Podcast interviews with artists. I have to fast forward the beginning of each podcast until the piano stops. I almost didn’t get to the first interview I listened to because that piano plonking kept going and going. Talk about a lack of musical depth.

Musical Depth

More than just a low tone, musical depth can refer to the richness, complexity, and multi-dimensionality of music. Musical depth can be achieved through:

Layers and Textures-Adding different instruments, sounds, and effects

Melodic and Harmonic Complexity-Melodies that combine major and minor scales, and harmonies that create interesting chords

Timbral Depth-timbre is also known as tone color or tone quality. It is the quality or character that makes a particular musical instrument or human voice have a different sound from another. Combining instruments and/or voices of different timbre can create depth.

Rhythmic Depth-a combination of rhythm instruments and players, polyrhythms (multiple rhythms played at the same time), and syncopation (emphasizing notes off the beat), can add complexity and depth. 

Emotional Depth-Music can express and evoke a range of emotions, and create a deep emotional connection with the listener.

I thought it would be fun to end this discussion with a vocal exercise video to work on the lower part of our vocal ranges. Instead of a singing exercise, I found this video that equates a lower speaking voice with the voice of authority. She says a deeper voice can earn you more money, more respect, and make you sound more confident. I hadn’t been thinking about vocal depth in this way at all. What do you think?

Today’s Poem

Deny Distraction

a megaton brainwave zings
sings of fun to misbehave, forget the whole thing

but once begun be brave and cling

to none of the depraved coiling and pissing

Anyone who would enslave or sling
one by one lost in the shock wave, ears ring
stunned they will crave your everything
while they run and rave and sting

under the gun don’t cave or grow wings
the hot sun in waves coloring

the one who stayed stomaching

and won then forgave everything

unwavering

This poem was inspired by today’s prompts at NaPoWriMo and Writer’s Digest’s April Poem a Day (PAD) Challenge. I chose the sculpture “Unwavering” by Martin Klein.

Thank you so much for coming by and reading my post. Any thoughts or questions about Musical Depth and Color Depth? Did you try the speaking exercises? Do you sound like Darth Vader now? Come back tomorrow for more depth exploration and poetry.