Are You Synesthetic?
Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which a person's senses blend and cross over in ways that are not typical for most people. The term "synesthesia" comes from the Greek words "syn," meaning together, and "aisthesis," meaning sensation. People with synesthesia experience a blending of their senses, such as seeing sounds or tasting colors.
Although synesthesia was once considered rare, research has shown that it may be more common than previously thought. According to the American Synesthesia Association, up to 4 percent of the population may have some form of synesthesia.
Synesthesia can take many different forms. For example, some people with synesthesia see colors when they hear certain sounds, such as music or voices. Others may taste specific flavors when they hear certain words or experience certain emotions. Still, others may perceive textures or shapes when they see certain colors.
There are many different types of synesthesia, and each person's experience is unique. Some people may only experience synesthesia in response to specific triggers, while others may experience it constantly. The triggers for synesthesia can also vary, with some people experiencing synesthesia in response to sounds, words, or even physical sensations.
Although synesthesia is not considered a disorder, it can have a significant impact on a person's perception and experience of the world. For some people, synesthesia can be a source of inspiration and creativity. For example, some musicians and artists with synesthesia have used their experiences to create unique works of art or music.
However, synesthesia can also be overwhelming or confusing for some people, particularly if they do not understand what they are experiencing. In some cases, people with synesthesia may feel isolated or misunderstood if they are unable to communicate their experiences to others.
There is currently no cure for synesthesia, as it is a neurological condition that is thought to be related to the way that the brain processes information. However, many people with synesthesia are able to find ways to manage and embrace their experiences. Some people may choose to use their synesthesia as a source of creativity, while others may seek out support from others with similar experiences.
The music of his "Symphonic Poem "The Sea" and the matching painting "Sonata of the Sea. "Finale" (1908) by synestheet - Lithuanian painter, composer and writer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, he composed about 400 pieces of music and created about 300 paintings, as well as many literary works and poems.
He perceived colors and music simultaneously. Many of his paintings bear the names of matching musical pieces: sonatas, fugues, and preludes. Čiurlionis's works have been displayed at international exhibitions in Japan, Germany, Spain, and elsewhere. His paintings were featured at "Visual Music" fest, an homage to synesthesia that included the works of Wassily Kandinsky, James McNeill Whistler, and Paul Klee, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles in 2005. Čiurlionis's life was depicted in the 2012 film Letters to Sofija, directed by Robert Mullan.
Alexander Scriabin composed colored music that was deliberately contrived and based on the circle of fifths, whereas Olivier Messiaen invented a new method of composition (the modes of limited transposition) specifically to render his bi-directional sound–color synesthesia.
British composer Daniel Liam Glyn created the classical-contemporary music project Changing Stations using Grapheme Colour Synaesthesia. Based on the 11 main lines of the London Underground, the eleven tracks featured on the album represent the eleven main tube line colours: Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith and City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, and Waterloo and City. Each track focuses heavily on the different speeds, sounds, and mood of each line, and are composed in the key signature synaesthetically assigned by Glyn with reference to the colour of the tube line on the map.
The producer, rapper, and fashion designer Kanye West is a prominent interdisciplinary case. In an impromptu speech he gave during an Ellen interview, he described his condition, saying that he sees sounds, and that everything he sonically makes is a painting.
Other notable synesthetes include musicians Billy Joel, Andy Partridge, Itzhak Perlman, Lorde, Billie Eilish, Brendon Urie, Ida Maria, and Brian Chase; electronic musician Richard D. James a.k.a. Aphex Twin (who claims to be inspired by lucid dreams as well as music); and classical pianist Hélène Grimaud. Musician Kristin Hersh sees music in colors. Drummer Mickey Hart of The Grateful Dead wrote about his experiences with synaesthesia in his autobiography Drumming at the Edge of Magic.
Pharrell Williams, of the groups The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., also experiences synesthesia and used it as the basis of the album Seeing Sounds. Singer/songwriter Marina and the Diamonds experiences music → color synesthesia and reports colored days of the week.