Ruminations on the Brian Eno A#$!-hole chord: Alternative Voicings

A conversation between musicians James Blake and Brian Eno triggered this episode on what the latter calls ’the arsehole chord’. This video discusses the chord structure: an incomplete extended chord in thirds, or, equivalently a form of tetrachord Pitch-Class Set 4-18. A voicing with an exposed open minor 9th interval yields a highly dissonant chord. Orchestration, timbre and register affect the perceived chord tension level. Alternatively close the minor 9th interval by inserting a new pitch-class and obtain extended chords in thirds, pentachord sets and two-layer polychords. These alternative voicing options are illustrated with short musical examples. Companion document (text, diagrams and score fragments, PDF, 24 pp., A4) available on Patreon. Contents: 00:00 Opening titles 00:28 Section 1 Introduction: what this video is about 01:22 Section 2 The Enochord characteristics, source material, G#o/G, exposed minor 9th 01:41 Section 2.1 Interpretation as incomplete extende