Introduction: What is an Acoustic Ballad?

An acoustic ballad is a type of song that emphasizes intimate melodies, minimal instrumentation, and emotional storytelling. These pieces often use instruments like acoustic guitars, pianos, and flutes to create reflective, personal soundscapes.

Famous acoustic ballads include:

• “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton – A deeply emotional piece about personal loss.
• “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel – A haunting exploration of isolation and communication breakdown.

“The Other Half of Silence” takes the acoustic ballad to new heights by incorporating 24-EDO microtonality, allowing the music to convey complex, unresolved emotions through microtonal shifts.

1. What is Microtuning and 24-EDO?

Microtuning refers to dividing the musical octave into smaller steps than the 12 semitones used in Western classical music. In a standard 12-EDO (Equal Division of the Octave) system, an octave consists of 12 equal semitones, with each step measuring 100 cents (the unit used to measure pitch intervals).

However, in 24-EDO, the octave is divided into 24 equal steps, with each step measuring 50 cents—half the size of a traditional semitone. This allows for quarter-tone intervals, which lie between familiar notes, creating new possibilities for expression.

How Does Microtuning Enhance Expression?

In traditional Western music, each pitch has a fixed relationship to others, which can limit emotional nuance. 24-EDO microtuning introduces in-between pitches, allowing musicians to express emotions that feel fragile, unresolved, or ambiguous.

In “The Other Half of Silence,” I use these microtonal shifts to:

• Convey delicate emotional states that can’t be captured by standard intervals.
• Create moments where the melody seems to float between notes, mirroring the unpredictability of emotions.
• Add a unique harmonic texture, where familiar consonances and dissonances are subtly altered.

This microtonal exploration allows the listener to experience emotions that linger between resolution and tension, evoking the sense that something is left unsaid—hence the title, “The Other Half of Silence.”

2. Melodic Structure and Harmonic Progressions

Below is an excerpt from the flute melody (taken from the IMSLP scoresheet):

Analysis: Primary Theme

The primary theme revolves around a B Minor melody with quarter-tone ornamentations. The phrase introduces subtle half-flat notes, creating emotional ambiguity. This use of microtonal intervals gives the melody a wandering quality, as though it searches for resolution but never finds it.

3. Chord Progressions and Harmonic Analysis

Here’s a breakdown of the chord progressions used in “The Other Half of Silence”, based on the scoresheet:

Chord Progression: Bm – Em – F#7 – Bm

This progression establishes the melancholic tonality of the piece. However, subtle microtonal shifts within the harmonies add layers of ambiguity.

• Bm (B – D – F#): The tonic chord sets a melancholic mood.
• Em (E – G – B): The minor iv chord reinforces the reflective nature of the piece.
• F#7 (F# – A# – C# – E): The dominant chord adds tension but doesn’t fully resolve, reflecting the theme of unresolved emotions.

4. Score Snippet: Flute and Strings Interaction

Below is another snippet showing the interaction between the flute and strings

In this section, the flute plays a fragmented melody, hovering around quarter-tones while the strings provide a subtle harmonic backdrop. The result is a delicate interplay between tension and release, creating a dreamlike, introspective atmosphere.

5. The Role of Silence

The title “The Other Half of Silence” reflects the importance of pauses in the music. Silence in this piece is not merely the absence of sound—it’s a vital component of the emotional landscape.

• Pauses between phrases give listeners time to reflect, amplifying the emotional weight of each note.
• Microtonal shifts enhance the tension within the silence, expressing emotions that linger between words.

6. Download the Scoresheet

For a closer look at the full arrangement and to explore the harmonic progressions in depth, download the complete scoresheet here:

The Other Half of Silence – Scoresheet (PDF)

7. Conclusion: A Journey Beyond Traditional Sound

“The Other Half of Silence” offers performers and listeners a unique opportunity to explore the emotional depth of microtonality. By using 24-EDO tuning, the piece conveys ambiguous emotions that lie between traditional pitches, inviting listeners to reflect on the beauty found within uncertainty.

Listen on YouTube

Explore the complete performance of “The Other Half of Silence” on YouTube:
YouTube – The Other Half of Silence