Prepared by: Researcher and Critic Donia Sahib Al-Hassani – Iraq
The quarter tone is a musical concept that embodies the subtle intervals between notes in Eastern music, expressing tonal nuances that expand the horizons of musical expression. Although this concept is tied to time and space through sound, it converges aesthetically and philosophically with the chromatic dimensions in the musical paintings created by Naseer Shamma. His works are distinguished by profound symbolic expression and advanced techniques that reflect the interplay between music, color, and philosophical thought.
The Quarter Tone and Abstract Musical Paintings
Naseer Shamma’s paintings are characterized by abstract chromatic richness that conveys the laws of astronomy and physics, harmonizing with the tonal dimensions of sound. These colors can be viewed as “color strokes” moving through the space of the canvas just as notes move through musical time. Just as the quarter tone reflects subtle spectral changes between notes, Shamma’s colors precisely embody transitions between hues, creating a visual counterpart to sonic shifts.
The Physical Perspective
From a physical standpoint, the quarter tone can be understood as a type of minute sound frequency that exists between primary notes—much like colors represent different light frequencies. In Shamma’s paintings, the interaction of colors resembles optical interference, with delicate tonal gradations blending in harmony to reflect natural balances akin to the consonance of sound waves in music.
The Astronomical Perspective
On an astronomical level, the quarter tone can be likened to the precise movements of celestial bodies, where each note represents a unique moment in time, just as each planetary motion signifies a distinct cosmic event. In Shamma’s paintings, colors merge like stars and galaxies in the universe, forming visual spaces that resemble the Milky Way—an artistic and spiritual harmony expressed through what can be called “cosmic ornamentation.”
Sufi Symbolism
In Sufi philosophy, precise proportions—including the quarter tone—are seen as cosmic secrets that reveal the hidden harmony between the material and spiritual realms. Just as a note aligns with the soul in the quest for ontological unity in the philosophy of Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existence), the colors in Shamma’s paintings harmonize with the human self, drawing it closer to the moment of divine truth’s manifestation in creation—deeply connected to pure remembrance of God, complete servitude, and sincere love for Him.
Philosophical Conclusion
The fusion of the quarter tone in music with Naseer Shamma’s abstract paintings forms an integrated aesthetic and philosophical vision, linking sound to color, time to space, and intellect to spirit. It is an experience that unveils the unity of the arts within a network of frequencies and patterns, reflecting a cosmic harmony between beauty, philosophical thought, and the mysteries of the human soul.
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