The genius of Bruckner
So this is probably common knowledge to many of you classical music buffs, but Anton Bruckner was genius. Symphony No. 0: with that simple title, Bruckner took the least honored number of the Arabic system and revealed its beauty and value.
In the numbers continuum, zero generally gets no respect. In fact, unless it is preceded by some other number(s), it is typically despised. I mean, who wants to be a zero? A "zero" is a nothing, a nobody, it's someone or something associated with the most meaningless number in the world. Does zero deserve this maltreatment?
Apparently Anton Bruckner didn't think so. He saw the veiled worth of the unloved number. He saw that deep within, "zero" has immense significance far beyond what most of us ever dream. Without zero, numbers would have no meaning, but would be lost in a sea of relativism and insignificance. Without zero, men would have no standard to measure by. Without zero, chaos.
Zero is the standard that holds all numbers in check. It is the point at which the infinite numbers continuum is balanced. Zero is the only number absolutely necessary to the mathematical system, and hence, the most important.
Anton Bruckner recognized the incredible worth of this powerful number and used it appropriately as the name of one of his most beautiful symphonies. A symphony which, like its number, seemingly provides life to all others.*
*This post is acknowledged to be revisionist history (or historical fiction, if you prefer) and, aside from the name of the composer and a common name for his unnamed D-minor symphonies, the statements, opinions, motives, and arguments herein are the author's creation only. However, if Bruckner had thought this thing through, he most certainly would have agreed with me.
In the numbers continuum, zero generally gets no respect. In fact, unless it is preceded by some other number(s), it is typically despised. I mean, who wants to be a zero? A "zero" is a nothing, a nobody, it's someone or something associated with the most meaningless number in the world. Does zero deserve this maltreatment?
Apparently Anton Bruckner didn't think so. He saw the veiled worth of the unloved number. He saw that deep within, "zero" has immense significance far beyond what most of us ever dream. Without zero, numbers would have no meaning, but would be lost in a sea of relativism and insignificance. Without zero, men would have no standard to measure by. Without zero, chaos.
Zero is the standard that holds all numbers in check. It is the point at which the infinite numbers continuum is balanced. Zero is the only number absolutely necessary to the mathematical system, and hence, the most important.
Anton Bruckner recognized the incredible worth of this powerful number and used it appropriately as the name of one of his most beautiful symphonies. A symphony which, like its number, seemingly provides life to all others.*
*This post is acknowledged to be revisionist history (or historical fiction, if you prefer) and, aside from the name of the composer and a common name for his unnamed D-minor symphonies, the statements, opinions, motives, and arguments herein are the author's creation only. However, if Bruckner had thought this thing through, he most certainly would have agreed with me.
posted by jph | 10:51 AM
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