Welcome to my Live Laboratory!
If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you were sent a link to check out some of my current projects. Though it’s been quite a while since my last post, I’m now beginning to feature some of that work here. In fact, along with the research, writing, and graphic illustration work I’ve been engaged in, I’m also building some compelling apps to help demonstrate the principles of Cyclical Dynamic Music Theory (CDMT). Below is an example (use case) for a CDMT Timeline app, featuring the current Neptune-Pluto cycle.
CDMT is the direct translation of planetary activity into audible musical pitches creating a coalescing soundscape of dynamic intervals. In real-time, any changes would progress so slowly that they would be undetectable to the ear. To simulate this effect, simply slide the “Speed” slider all the way to the right and it will enter “infinite” mode. With Infinite mode engaged, the user can use arrow keys to navigate or type a specific date (within range) into the date field. Scroll down for detailed instructions, features, and recent updates.
Cyclical Dynamic Music Theory Timeline App
CDMT Timeline Tool
Professional App Description & Feature Documentation
CDMT Timeline Tool is a first-of-its-kind audio-visual instrument that translates planetary motion into real-time musical harmony. Built on the principles of Cyclical Dynamic Music Theory (CDMT), this tool transforms centuries of celestial data into an immersive sonic experience—making the ancient concept of the “Music of the Spheres” literally audible for the first time.
Quick Start
- Click ⤢ to open in fullscreen for the best experience
- Click ▼ Mixer to open the control panel
- Click ▶ Play to begin playback
- Experiment with the three Mode buttons to find your preferred listening experience
- Use Speed slider to control tempo (far right = Infinite/Drone mode)
- Navigate with arrow keys or type a specific year
- Use [A] Auto-Pan for a dynamic spatial stereo experience (Headphones Recommended)
Extended Description
The CDMT Timeline Tool bridges two of humanity’s oldest systems for understanding harmony: music theory and astrology. By mapping the 12-note chromatic scale to the 12 signs of the zodiac, planetary positions become musical pitches, and their geometric relationships (aspects) become intervals and chords.
Unlike static charts or abstract calculations, this tool lets you hear what astrologers have always described—the dissonance of a square, the consonance of a trine, and the resolution of a conjunction. Navigate through centuries of celestial activity and experience planetary cycles as evolving soundscapes, or explore your own natal chart as an intimate sonic portrait.
There is no musical or astrological phenomenon that is not present in this simple design. We have simply reiterated the wheel.
Core Innovation: Proprietary dual-oscillator architecture creates perpetually ascending pitch motion (inspired by the Shepard tone illusion) while maintaining harmonic accuracy. Each planet’s position generates two simultaneous pitches that crossfade based on zodiacal hemisphere, eliminating the jarring “resets” that would otherwise occur at sign boundaries.
Versatility
The CDMT Timeline Tool is not limited to any single use case:
- Any image can serve as the timeline — linear historical charts, cyclical wheels, or no image at all (invisible playhead mode for pure audio)
- Retrograde motion is fully supported — planetary stations and reversals are accurately represented through the direction controls
- Compose, don’t just observe — program custom chord progressions, create musical pieces based on celestial patterns, or extract sequences for your own compositions
- Deeply personal exploration — while powerful for historical research, the tool is equally suited for intimate inner work: natal chart meditation, personal transit soundscapes, and contemplative practice
The example featured on this page uses a custom-designed graphic illustration, but the tool can and will be used with other visuals to demonstrate CDMT principles across historical cycles, mundane events, and personal transits.
Key Features
🎵 Three Listening Modes
| Mode | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous | Unfiltered 360° pitch resolution. Full micro-tonal accuracy. | Researchers, meditation, experiencing raw celestial dynamics |
| Aspect Only | Auto-fading volume based on aspect proximity (±10° major, ±5° minor orbs). Pitches emerge as planets approach harmonic angles. | Focused aspect study, more musical experience |
| Harmonic | Quantized to 12-tone equal temperament. Familiar chromatic pitches only. | General listening, chord identification, playing along |
🎛️ Professional Mixer
- Per-track volume control with real-time visual feedback (sliders animate in Aspect mode)
- Stereo panning (L/R) for spatial separation
- Auto-Pan mode — pitches orbit the stereo field based on zodiacal position
- Mute/Solo for isolating individual planetary voices
- Global reverb for blended, atmospheric soundscapes
📊 Chord Calculator
Real-time harmonic analysis displays all active pitches and identifies possible chord interpretations (Major, minor, 7th, suspended, augmented, diminished, etc.). Each pitch can serve as a potential root, showing multiple valid interpretations simultaneously.
⏱️ Flexible Navigation
- Variable speed playback (0.1s to 5s per step)
- Infinite/Drone mode — freeze time and explore with arrow keys
- Direct year input — jump to any date within the timeline range
- Keyboard shortcuts — ←→ (±1 year), ↑↓ (±10 years), Space (play/pause)
🖼️ Visual Timeline Overlay
Synchronized playhead tracks across your custom timeline graphic, showing exact position in the planetary cycle. Supports any uploaded image as background, or operate in invisible mode for pure audio experience.
Technical Specifications
- Pitch System: 360° Equal Temperament (continuous) / 12-Tone ET (harmonic mode)
- Frequency Range: Octaves 2-7 (C1 ~65Hz to B6 ~1976Hz)
- Loudness Compensation: Fletcher-Munson curve applied per octave
- Audio Engine: Web Audio API with real-time oscillator synthesis
- Aspect Orbs: Major (0°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 180°) = 10° | Minor (30°, 150°, 210°, 330°) = 5°
- Export: Self-contained HTML playback files (no server required)
Recommended Settings
First-Time Listeners
- Mode: Harmonic
- Speed: 2.0-4.0s per step
- Reverb: 90-100%
- Auto-Pan: [A] Spread tracks across stereo field on one or more tracks
Aspect Focus (Recommended)
- Mode: Aspect Only
- Noise Filter: 0 (silent between aspects) or 2-3 (subtle background)
- Speed: 3-4.0s (or Infinite mode with manual navigation)
- Reverb: 80-90%
- Auto-Pan: [A] Enabled on all tracks
Meditation / Ambient
- Mode: Continuous (freeze a step to meditate on it)
- Speed: Infinite (drone)
- Reverb: 70-100%
- Pan: Pan each track independently to desired position
Use Cases
- Inner Exploration — Hear your natal chart, meditate on personal transits, contemplate life cycles as sound
- Astrological Education — Demonstrate aspects, transits, and cycles as audible phenomena
- Client Consultations — Add sonic dimension to chart readings
- Historical Research — Hear the harmonic signature of any era
- Musical Composition — Extract chord progressions from planetary movements
- Content Creation — Generate unique audio for astrology-themed videos, podcasts, or presentations
The Theory Behind the Tool
Cyclical Dynamic Music Theory (CDMT) proposes that astrology and music theory are two expressions of the same underlying harmonic principles (Cyclical Dynamic). The 12 zodiac signs map directly to the 12 chromatic pitches:
| Sign | Pitch | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | C | Fire 🔥 |
| Taurus | C# | Earth 🌍 |
| Gemini | D | Air 💨 |
| Cancer | D# | Water 💧 |
| Leo | E | Fire 🔥 |
| Virgo | F | Earth 🌍 |
| Libra | F# | Air 💨 |
| Scorpio | G | Water 💧 |
| Sagittarius | G# | Fire 🔥 |
| Capricorn | A | Earth 🌍 |
| Aquarius | A# | Air 💨 |
| Pisces | B | Water 💧 |
Aspect-to-Interval Mapping
Astrological aspects translate to musical intervals based on their angular distance. Because aspects can be either Separating (moving from conjunction toward opposition) or Applying (moving from opposition toward conjunction), each aspect maps to a specific interval—or its inversion:
| Aspect | Degrees | Separating Interval | Applying Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conjunction | 0° | Octave/Unison | Octave/Unison |
| Semi-sextile | 30° | Minor 2nd (♭2) | Major 7th |
| Sextile | 60° | Major 2nd | Minor 7th |
| Square | 90° | Minor 3rd | Major 6th |
| Trine | 120° | Major 3rd | Augmented 5th |
| Quincunx | 150° | Perfect 4th (sus4) | Perfect 5th |
| Opposition | 180° | Tritone | Tritone |
This mapping reveals profound correspondences:
- Conjunction (0°) = Resolution, return to unity
- Trine (120°) = Consonance, the sweet Major 3rd
- Square (90°) = Dissonance, the tension of a minor 3rd
- Opposition (180°) = Maximum instability, the tritone’s pull in two directions
Symmetrical Patterns
In both music theory and astrology, symmetrical patterns create ambiguity:
- Grand Trines (three planets 120° apart) form Augmented chords — harmonically unstable, lacking a clear tonic
- Grand Crosses (four planets 90° apart) form Diminished 7th chords — maximum tension, every note equidistant
These symmetrical formations function as “passing” configurations in both systems—moments of heightened significance that inherently resolve into asymmetrical (and thus more stable) patterns. In drone mode, however, they induce sustained tension through this very disorientation.
“There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres” — Pythagoras
Version History
Current Release
- Three playback modes (Continuous, Aspect Only, Harmonic)
- Auto-Pan with animated sliders
- Animated volume faders in Aspect mode
- Chord Calculator with multi-root analysis
- Fullscreen mode with responsive scaling
- Per-track octave adjustment in player
- Smooth volume interpolation (eliminates stepping artifacts)
Credits
Concept, Theory & Design: John Christopher Wood
Framework: Cyclical Dynamic Music Theory (CDMT)
Development: Custom-built using Web Audio API
The CDMT Timeline Tool is part of the Cyclical Dynamics project — exploring the intersection of astrology, music theory, and life cycles.
© 2025 Cyclical Dynamics