Dissonance is Delicious

In this podcast episode, the host tackles the widespread belief that dissonance in music is always unpleasant. Dale McGowan makes a compelling case for the importance of dissonance, showing how it interacts with consonance to add emotional depth and resonance to music. He breaks down the technical side of these concepts, explaining that simple vibrational ratios produce consonant sounds, while more complex ratios lead to dissonance. However, he clarifies that dissonance isn't merely "unpleasant"; instead, it creates tension and release, which are essential for driving the drama and emotional weight of a piece. Through examples from various musical genres, McGowan illustrates how skilled composers harness this tension and release to craft powerful and moving musical experiences.