The Perfect Fifth
Initiative—2:3
In the Harmonic Series, the balanced wholeness of the Octave gives rise to the Perfect Fifth. The Perfect Fifth marks the primary appearance of the Initiating Force within the Series, and it penetrates the Octave’s restful singularity. The Perfect Fifth is the first harmony that arises in the Series, and is probably the first harmony we sang. It marks the birth of structure, of multiplicity, and is an affirmation of individuality; it is the Tree of Knowledge and the birth of consciousness; it is primal action and primal intent.
Musically, the Perfect Fifth has a clarion quality: it is an annunciation and sometimes a battle cry. In a casting, it indicates a rising up, a taking of initiative. If not navigated consciously it can be overly aggressive or brutal.
In the active suit of Brass, the hermeneutic for the Perfect Fifth is leadership; in the emotional suit of Strings, impulse; in the intellectual suit of Woodwinds, focus; in the physical suit of Percussion, growth; and in the spiritual, holistic suit of Voices, avowal.