@crazypresentationgal Ha! Funny you should say that. I begin Pi Symphony with a melody inspired by Pi... rounded off to the nearest 1/10000. ( a VERY good approximation) and then delve into the longer melody. I wrap it up, at the end of momement two with the melody, again, inspired by pi rounded off to 3.1416.
so im doing my geometry homework. will you sue me? lawl
I'm just kidding. Everyone has their own opinion on your copyright decision. I understand that you copyrighted the musical depiction of the infamous mathimatical constant, but I honestly believe that anyone has the right to express themselves within reason, there are no boundries or limits in music, and I don't think that some of the viewers realize that there are an infinate amount of numbers within pi.
so many haters..that can't comprehend the difference between a melody and a math formula...rodgers and hammerstein copyrighted the melody based on the major scale of do re mi...michael jackson and his brothers had a big copyrighted hit with ABC...so to all you haters out there ... fuck off...and if your little pea-brain should ever come up with a interesting idea...don't copyright it...too many haters
@Cowloverer this is true, 'Cowloverer'... You are falling for an idiotic notion that Pi is not a math constant, but a melody. Your comment belies not only your rudeness, but also your stupidity and immaturity ( and for that matter, your anonymity) Either way, says much more about your than me.
You can't copyright inspiration for a piece of music. If I went outside and was inspired by birds in the trees and wrote a song about it, I couldn't copyright any other song that was inspired by the same thing. Likewise you can't claim copyright on a method of delivering music, like the use of an instrument.
Ok, my question is IF (and how) had the first composer copyrighted the "pisimphony" ?
If we have a legal form of copyright BEFORE, it's okay... but if the pisimphony was not copyrighted , what are we talking about ?
Ok, no problem i will play another pi starting from Dmaj or Emin... and some original algorhitms for rhytm (bpm) or different instruments and repetitions... What will we two have in common ?
@fanebabanu19 I did copyright the pi symphony in 1992. I cannot speculate about how similar, or dissimilar your song might be... but chances are, you would not, at this point, claim you had never heard of Pi Symphony.
why? you can't own pi, you never did, how can you copyright it when you didn't come with it, yes i see that you made showed it in your own interpretation, but that doesn't mean you own pi
@pisymph, I am curious then as to why there is a copyright claim on Michael Blake's video by you? I can't watch his video to compare the two pieces and would have loved to hear them both. It's an interesting concept and pi loved by many a person, math related or otherwise.
Well... Its was nice idea, though you were surely not the first person in history to ever make mathematical music based on PI. But Lars? Trying to prevent anyone else from ever making a completely different tune based on PI... That is just nasty. Did you really want this to be the end of mathemathical music? Did you really want to be the last person to ever make a song based on PI? Why the hate?
@bahoxu If you believe I am trying to do that, you have probably been influence by someone spreading this falsehood. Plenty of others have made different melodies on pi. I am merely defending my own work.
@pisymph Except that you claimed copyright on a melody that was different from yours and had nothing to do with yours. . Anyway, even if this Pi song was made by you, the real credits should go to mathematicians who calculate Pi decimals. Without them you wouldn't be here, hmm... should we claim copyright for mathematicians too?
@PullarBearBear You are wrong. The melody is identical, and there do exist many other people's versions of the melody of pi that are completely different. I agree that mathematicians derived the digits of pi. I did copyright the melody of pi symphony many years ago, precisely to protect it from anyone wishing to act like they had composed it themselves merely because that is possible.
@pisymph Hmm... I guess I used the wrong word. Sorry, I'm not a 'musical person'. What I was saying is the "tempo and the harmony". Sorry, my bad.
Nevertheless, you cannot change the 'melody of pi'. This is because Pi is a FIXED constant, 3.141592654 approx. Anything else would not be a 'Pi melody' anymore. For example, 3.1417 would be just a string of digits, not 'Pi'. If you copyright 'Pi melody', nobody can play it anymore, because there is only 1 and only 1 melody.
@PullarBearBear Wrong again. Lots of people sing 'Happy Birthday', right? It is also protected by copyright. And, secondly, there are many ways to map these digits to notes.
lol... that ideea was also on my mind years before... but let's tune the pi in ... say Fm... or G... this makes entirely other notes... it will be ok then ?
my opinion it is that you can copyright only the mathematical algorithm who is modyfying the pi number
@fanebabanu19 This is an interesting question, right? But the real question: is it okay to copy someone else's work, then claim you have never seen it just because it is inspired by pi ?
@pisymph Pi is part of maths and science, and maths and science are to be shared within everybody. Did you know there is a 'Pi dance' too? People imagine a calculator on the floor and move according to where the digits are. The thing is, nobody has copyrighted this before, and will probably not copyright it (unless they're a douchebag lol). (Two posts because 500 characters limit, and I appreciate your point of views. :))
Do you really expect people to take you seriously with comments like this- or is that simply the extent of your vocabulary? The smear tactics used by this group of Blake "supporters" only makes him(Blake) look worse. Leave it alone people- it's none of your business. Leave Lars alone- Your nastiness is only a testament to your lack of class.
@pisymph In your explanation video above at 1:36 you clearly state that pi has "been here before the dawn of time" and thus couldn't have been man-made. The relation between circumference and diameter existed before man, and consequently not man-made.
Also, the sound of Tau uses zero as a pause. In your explanation you actually press the key after nine. How is that copyright infringement? Are you needing attention or actually an ignoramus?
I think you're jealous. Tau is far more beautiful.
you guys, stop getting angry, he's trying to defend his patent (which in my opinion could have been limited to a symphony instead of a melody based on pi). He's not an asshole, though i agree he could be handling this in a much better way. Also pisymph, if you wan to have musical discussions with me, that'd be awesome, you seem like an interesting person, and I am an aspiring composer
Also, I have a great deal of work surrounding pi, and If I were to make a sound presentation of sorts, I will not answer to you or anyone. You were not the first and will not be the last to assign a string of numbers to musical notes. This is as old as computing.
So, if a site like wolfram puts audiolizations of pi, or a wolfram user does if they haven't already? Are they infringing intellectual property? You lack both. The process nor the number belong to you.
@pisymph If the melody, taken from pi, belongs to you, then the melody has to follow a similar cadence and rhythm; you don't necessarily own the variations created hereto from the same melody, as the song would change immensely if different meters, note lengths, chords, and the like were used.
I think it's highly selfish of you to create a melody from a mathematical number that has been "found" and close all avenues of musical interpretation at your will.
How much of a douchebag are you?? Really... Throwing a spat due to a fucking melody based on the number pi? Fuck you, seriously Fuck you. This sound like shit too even
@RonLussierLenscraft Yes, that would be shameful. What IS shameful is when it is asserted by others that Lars Erickson is claiming to own Pi. Yes, that is shameful. I am not hiding one bit.
The hate you are receiving is well deserved and you should be ashamed of yourself. The language of the comments reflects poorly on those who posted them, but the message is a poor reflection upon yourself.
@modokunrepublic There's nothing shameful about standing up for oneself, especially when wrongfully attacked. As much as others might try to play the victim, they are not.
@Trinivalts Funny how many of these comments use the pejorative term, 'douche'. Ironic, really, to be calling me, the very thing the gets to go where probably none of these guys ever do.
I just had to come in to say that you are a disgrace to music. I hope your next objective isn't getting a copyright for any frequency between 20Hz to 20kHz. A shame...
@radium05 Actually, I have no idea why you would say something so hurtful, but it says much more about you than it does about me. I copyrighted a melody, not a number.
this is very interesting, I am not going to get on you for the copyright claim. My complaint about it is that it could have been a little less broad. Putting a copyright on pi would technically mean you put a copyright on every single possible melody (as pi, as we know it, is transcendental) in C major or A Minor. Though you were the first person to publish a pi piece and copyright it, I applaud your creativity, and hope this lawsuit comes to some sort of settlement soon.
@slaytesics I would never dream of trying to copyright 'pi'. I copyrighted the melody of pi symphony, based on the first 32 digits of pi, to protect these melodies from anyone who might be inclined to lift them, along with the entire concept, and claim it as an original thought..
I feel sorry for you, sir. Everyone accusing you of "owning a number" against all logic despite you PLAINLY EXPLAINING that you own the MELODY and not the NUMBER. What idiots. Great job, sir.
Why did you freaking copyright Michael Blake!?!? It's not like he stole it from you, he just wanted to share the love of pi. You DON'T own pi, or any pi-related-music. You shouldn't own anything related to pi, idiot.
It sounds like messed up RPG Music. I will admit it is a slightly clever idea but it really just sounds like some 5 year old hitting a keyboard and calling it music. I'm sorry, but this is an AWFUL piece of music.
The cunt who discovered the ratio PI should sue you for fucking copyright. Micheal Blake didn't copy shit of you except an idea (maybe, he might have come up with it on his own). The melody & numbers were already fucking there.
Just the fact that you disabled the ratings on this video shows what kinda public response you're getting and what kind of person you are.
To the Naysayers of THE PI SYMPHONY: the purpose of a musical copyright is to copyright the melody no matter where it came from . If anyone wants to dispute this take it up with the library of congress. . A mature human being would understand this and be graceful about letting the original receive credit where it is due. your Moronic comments only show your incredible ignorance and insecurity about yourself .
As a math teacher and musician I appreciate your reasons for composing and copyrighting this. However, by pulling the copyright card on Michael Blake, you are contradicting the main point of a composition like this, which is to share an appreciation of the beauty of mathematics.
You didn't discover the mathematical constant relating a circle's circumference and diamater known as pi. Nor did you create the standard numbering system of musical notes. So what makes you think you own copyrights to a melody derived directly from those two things?
Is this the ass hole who's suing michael blake for copyright of the pi symphony? You didn't write the pi symphony. it was written for you. and IS being written for you by supercomputers. This whole thing is bullsh!t.
@pisymph if "many melodies can be made" from Pi, then why has a supposed lawsuit been filed against Michael Blake? You COULD say it was copyright infringement, however one cannot copyright a math constant and make it their own. You could also say that this person stole your idea, however thats a bad way to look at it. Besides, imitation is the best form of flattery.
@pisymph : Hello, I thoroughly enjoyed your video, it was very informative and interesting at the same time. I felt like I really wanted to buy your Pi Symphony CD but I was wondering there is an unsynthesized version of it.
Thank you again for composing the symphony and taking time to make this video. I really do hope you can respond!
@Tihmily2007 Hi, I would be glad to send you a CD. On my website, you can buy the 'synthesized' version, and I will send a Ruse ( live orchestra) CD. Thanks!
This is a brilliant piece of work! Thanks for sharing the documentary of the performance in Ruse, as well. A lot of hard work went in to this, obviously - what a beautiful gift to the world - thank you.
Hi there, this is Jimmy from the Pi Day of Our Lives facebook event. Just wanted to say congratulations on getting your issue sorted out. I actually am a bit of a music composer myself, and I'm interested to see how many views this video picks up :)
@rxrep1 truth be known....that would make you about 14 at the time...very progressive for a music school back in the dark ages...very lucky that your parents could afford a music school for you....however they did have video cameras back then.....and anything that progressive would have dozens of parents with video cameras...those big bulky things......did you also copyright it then too
@aliciaverdier I would like to have the power that you somehow attribute to me, but, really YouTube pulled the video. Copyrights are a handy way to show you did something. Every song exists in pi, and so does the one I have a copyright on, at the first 32 digits.
@pisymph I wasn't necessarily attributing that power to you, but it *was* your actions and complaint that got the video blocked. What exactly do you mean "every song exists in pi"? Do you mean to say that pi as a transcendental number contains every possible combination of numbers within it's string? I realize that you have a copyright on YOUR melodic/rhythmic version of the first 32 digits of pi, but does that really mean that yours is the only version that could be created with them?
@aliciaverdier Well, good question. After a certain number of same notes, copyrights start to kick in. Any 10 number ( note) sequence can be searched and found in the digits of Pi, and pretty easily these days. Pi Symphony uses the melody in many ways.
@pisymph Out of curiosity,then, what happens with 12 tone music? I would wager that from time to time, different composers end up using some of the same sequences. Does it cause copyright issues? One more question, when you listen to Michael's piece, do you hear a strong similarity? I ask that genuinely and am not trying to be snarky. I realize how text can sometimes come across negatively without that intention.
@aliciaverdier Yes, obviously, there is more than a similarity. I copyrighted this exact melody in 1992, and use the chord changes of both the digits of pi, and the circle of fifths. I use them extensively in Pi Symphony.
@pisymph It is clearly the role of copyright to protect creativity. Copyright does not protect anything that is obvious or discoverable through ordinary knowledge. In the case of “your” melody based on pi, the assignment of the digits of pi to the various notes of the scale is based on an ordinary and obvious system that literally countless other musicians have done over the years. You were certainly not the first to do it with the number pi. I myself did it before 1992.
@dolhaz there were NO links in the comment that I posted, which Blake deleted promptly, before blocking me in general. also, I had no vulgarity or impropriety in my comment whatsoever.
I am a friend of Michael Blake's and I can assure you all that his work was original. It is not hard to imagine how two people could come up with generative music that is similar. The comments to his video that were deleted were rude or vulgar. Other comments referencing Erickson's work were left up. It's to bad it went down this way; the popularity of Blake's video could have brought attention to Erickson's work. I hope they can work something out.
Pi Symphony didn't even scratch the surface of possibilities. Why not use the formula to come up with rhythms more interesting than quarter notes in 4/4 time? Add chromatisism instead of staying diotonic? Take an inversion of the theme, along with a retrograde and even retrograde inversion. Just a few of the possibilities done over the past century. I used all of these on my thesis ...
@KanzlerM Actually, if you were to watch the two videos of Pi Symphony, you would see the melody of pi used rhythmically, upside down, backwards, major, minor, with 'e' ( what your musician friend refers to as retrograde and inverted) Yes, these all appear. I am sorry you are bent on hating it because I protected my melody before devoting my life to this, and giving it up to the world.
That's pretty lame of you, man. He's not making a profit off of the video, and his interpretation is much more entertaining. You have no way of knowing if whether or not his work was inspired by your work, and just assuming it is is pretty arrogant.
@lobstrain Hi, sorry you feel that way, glad you liked his video. It wasn't bad, and you're right, I don't know for certain whether he viewed the "Explanation" video... but I do know that he blocked accounts of people who tried to reference my earlier and copyrighted work.
The problem here is that the melody that forms the basis for this pi symphony IS copyrighted, and when Michael posted his video not only did he give NO credit to Lars' pi Symphony, he proceeded to block and delete all comments concerning it. I'm glad you took a stand, Lars--it was the right thing to do.
happy pi day..too bad michael blocked people and would'nt give credit on his youtube video...you've worked long and hard on this for over twenty years...it would be interesting to see a discussion between the two of you debating the circle of fifths... it's obvious that he saw your explanation of pi symphony..all he had to do was give credit to those that have gone before...and not block people
@pisymph I think you were right in filing a copyright claim. The poster of the other video was blocking and deleting comments/commenters pointing our that you did this 19 years ago. Not only was he trying to pass off the work as his own original idea, but then he acted like a dirty politician, trying to cover it up when people asked him to give some credit to you.
If he had credited you as the 1st person to do this from the start I don't think you would have filed the claim.
Dislike to show my support for Michael Blake. I think your copyright claim is complete BS. That'd be like copyrighting a musical interpretation of the alphabet. Pi is the public domain. If I were slightly less intelligent, I'd resort to name calling, that's how much you've ticked me off. If you succeed in holding down Michael's video, it'll be in vain as far as I'm concerned; not getting a penny from me for your inferior version.
@pisymph So every time someone does a cover of Lady Gaga or Britney Spears on youtube you are saying that their video should be taken down? Some of youtube's most successful users make their fame and make money from improving other pieces of work. Even if MJB saw your video he made it 10x better than yours. Sorry, thats just how I feel.
@jakepetersen91 The problem wasn't that MJB did a Pi song. It was that he did the Pi song and didn't give credit. Like if someone did a cover of Lady Gaga or Britaney Spears and didn't give credit. No, no one owns the copyright to Pi.
However I think if you're the first to do something original and creative, the people paying homage to your work should credit you. Its only courteous. MHO.
@crystalsmuse "No, no one owns the copyright to Pi." However, @pisymph claims that "I did not copyright pi, just a melody based on it." and that "Merely the melody of pi in base 10. " is his intellectual property. To me, a copyright of pi and a copyright of the digits of pi in base 10 as notes in a scale seem to be the same thing, but not being an expert in musical copyright or whatever @pisymph may be correct, even though the 'copyright infringing' song sounds quite distinct from Pi symphony.
I don't know who I feel worse for. Michael John Blake because you forced the removal of his video, or you for being bitter about his getting the attention today while yours didn't (that IS how this looks from the outside, by the way.) OR perhaps it's the students that were going to get a chance to see his video today, but don't get to now. Nice work.
@aliciaverdier I agree. The pieces are not at all the same and I like both very much. I think you and MJB are being pretty silly blocking each other lest anyone think that either of you isn't creative. I'm sorry that there are people who don't see the beauty in both pieces and that the two of you simply used similar compositional devices. Would anyone say that no one can use a 12-tone row to compose because Schoenberg thought of it first?
Hey, I contacted him, but when people were referencing my work in his comments, he blocked their accounts. I am not trying to suppress the melody of pi, just someone taking credit for coming up with it this year when I did it 19 years ago. I completely understand, and hate doing it.
This reminds me of Béla Bartók's works being based on two opposing systems, that of the golden ratio and the acoustic scale in his Music for Strings, Percussion.
This is an EXCELLENT video! Thank you for taking the time to create this explanation - something for me to share with those who ask about this music I have been playing. Congratulations on the upcoming performance. I hope they will be recording it when the orchestra plays it ... I want to purchase that copy! ~ mjt
Why does everybody like Pi ?.... because there's an infinite number of ways to make one :)
Mentasys 1 week ago
if only we could make the statistics and probability unit fun by being able to throw music into it... but this is really, really cool.
It'd also be cool if I got to study this in my piano theory classes. doing chords and SATB is so... boring.
gocanadayayyy 1 month ago
I believe its 3.1415 not 3.1416
crazypresentationgal 1 month ago
@crazypresentationgal Ha! Funny you should say that. I begin Pi Symphony with a melody inspired by Pi... rounded off to the nearest 1/10000. ( a VERY good approximation) and then delve into the longer melody. I wrap it up, at the end of momement two with the melody, again, inspired by pi rounded off to 3.1416.
pisymph 1 month ago
@crazypresentationgal
3.14159 ;)
Jipzorowns 2 weeks ago
so im doing my geometry homework. will you sue me? lawl
I'm just kidding. Everyone has their own opinion on your copyright decision. I understand that you copyrighted the musical depiction of the infamous mathimatical constant, but I honestly believe that anyone has the right to express themselves within reason, there are no boundries or limits in music, and I don't think that some of the viewers realize that there are an infinate amount of numbers within pi.
my rant ends here
lawl, again
shauneben 2 months ago
Very creative and extremely interesting. Every great work has an inspiration. Lars, this is a great work.
donsax1 2 months ago
so many haters..that can't comprehend the difference between a melody and a math formula...rodgers and hammerstein copyrighted the melody based on the major scale of do re mi...michael jackson and his brothers had a big copyrighted hit with ABC...so to all you haters out there ... fuck off...and if your little pea-brain should ever come up with a interesting idea...don't copyright it...too many haters
rainbowmusicomaha 3 months ago
Pi belongs to the world! Fuck you Lars!
Cowloverer 3 months ago
@Cowloverer this is true, 'Cowloverer'... You are falling for an idiotic notion that Pi is not a math constant, but a melody. Your comment belies not only your rudeness, but also your stupidity and immaturity ( and for that matter, your anonymity) Either way, says much more about your than me.
pisymph 3 months ago
@Cowloverer appears to be some sort of teacher/tutor....obviously didn't do his homework before using the F-bomb
rainbowmusicomaha 3 months ago
I hate you and everything you stand for
EvilPictureBook 3 months ago
Get rid of the copyright, Lars.
nobody likes you.
JustThinking04 5 months ago
@JustThinking04 This anonymous comment from some person whose channel is 'unavailable'... what a surprise. Obviously a very hateful person.
pisymph 5 months ago
@JustThinking04 odd how this channel doesn't even exist....
rainbowmusicomaha 3 months ago
You're a true bastard, Lars.
huckxhn 6 months ago
@huckxhn Your comment simply reflects your own nature.
pisymph 5 months ago
You can't copyright inspiration for a piece of music. If I went outside and was inspired by birds in the trees and wrote a song about it, I couldn't copyright any other song that was inspired by the same thing. Likewise you can't claim copyright on a method of delivering music, like the use of an instrument.
MrDrewbies 6 months ago
@MrDrewbies No one copyrighted a method or an inspiration. Those are lies.
pisymph 6 months ago
You are a tool. Copyright on PI?
glean1977 6 months ago
You can own a melody. You should put some pants on an run upstairs and get your mom to wash your mouth out with soap.
thepig1970 6 months ago
Ok, my question is IF (and how) had the first composer copyrighted the "pisimphony" ?
If we have a legal form of copyright BEFORE, it's okay... but if the pisimphony was not copyrighted , what are we talking about ?
Ok, no problem i will play another pi starting from Dmaj or Emin... and some original algorhitms for rhytm (bpm) or different instruments and repetitions... What will we two have in common ?
fanebabanu19 6 months ago
@fanebabanu19 I did copyright the pi symphony in 1992. I cannot speculate about how similar, or dissimilar your song might be... but chances are, you would not, at this point, claim you had never heard of Pi Symphony.
pisymph 6 months ago
cool idea turning pi into music. but why take copyright on it and force anyone else who have other versions of it to remove their videos?
reffstrup 6 months ago
Less suing more music god damn it!
AndreaManion 6 months ago
why? you can't own pi, you never did, how can you copyright it when you didn't come with it, yes i see that you made showed it in your own interpretation, but that doesn't mean you own pi
esjr2 7 months ago
@esjr2 Don't believe anyone trying to confuse this issue by claiming, falsely, that I am trying to own pi.
pisymph 7 months ago
@pisymph, I am curious then as to why there is a copyright claim on Michael Blake's video by you? I can't watch his video to compare the two pieces and would have loved to hear them both. It's an interesting concept and pi loved by many a person, math related or otherwise.
llc88 6 months ago
Well... Its was nice idea, though you were surely not the first person in history to ever make mathematical music based on PI. But Lars? Trying to prevent anyone else from ever making a completely different tune based on PI... That is just nasty. Did you really want this to be the end of mathemathical music? Did you really want to be the last person to ever make a song based on PI? Why the hate?
bahoxu 7 months ago
@bahoxu If you believe I am trying to do that, you have probably been influence by someone spreading this falsehood. Plenty of others have made different melodies on pi. I am merely defending my own work.
pisymph 7 months ago
@pisymph Except that you claimed copyright on a melody that was different from yours and had nothing to do with yours. . Anyway, even if this Pi song was made by you, the real credits should go to mathematicians who calculate Pi decimals. Without them you wouldn't be here, hmm... should we claim copyright for mathematicians too?
PullarBearBear 6 months ago
@PullarBearBear You are wrong. The melody is identical, and there do exist many other people's versions of the melody of pi that are completely different. I agree that mathematicians derived the digits of pi. I did copyright the melody of pi symphony many years ago, precisely to protect it from anyone wishing to act like they had composed it themselves merely because that is possible.
pisymph 6 months ago
@pisymph Hmm... I guess I used the wrong word. Sorry, I'm not a 'musical person'. What I was saying is the "tempo and the harmony". Sorry, my bad.
Nevertheless, you cannot change the 'melody of pi'. This is because Pi is a FIXED constant, 3.141592654 approx. Anything else would not be a 'Pi melody' anymore. For example, 3.1417 would be just a string of digits, not 'Pi'. If you copyright 'Pi melody', nobody can play it anymore, because there is only 1 and only 1 melody.
PullarBearBear 6 months ago
@PullarBearBear Wrong again. Lots of people sing 'Happy Birthday', right? It is also protected by copyright. And, secondly, there are many ways to map these digits to notes.
pisymph 6 months ago
@PullarBearBear
lol... that ideea was also on my mind years before... but let's tune the pi in ... say Fm... or G... this makes entirely other notes... it will be ok then ?
my opinion it is that you can copyright only the mathematical algorithm who is modyfying the pi number
fanebabanu19 6 months ago
@fanebabanu19 This is an interesting question, right? But the real question: is it okay to copy someone else's work, then claim you have never seen it just because it is inspired by pi ?
pisymph 6 months ago
@pisymph Pi is part of maths and science, and maths and science are to be shared within everybody. Did you know there is a 'Pi dance' too? People imagine a calculator on the floor and move according to where the digits are. The thing is, nobody has copyrighted this before, and will probably not copyright it (unless they're a douchebag lol). (Two posts because 500 characters limit, and I appreciate your point of views. :))
PullarBearBear 6 months ago
@PullarBearBear Math is also about truth.
pisymph 6 months ago
@pisymph Well, then that truth is saying that Maths does not belong to 1 and only 1 person, and that includes Pi.
PullarBearBear 6 months ago
@PullarBearBear Wrong for the third time. It contains truth about the universe, not about ownership of melodies.
pisymph 6 months ago
1. The song sounds like ass.
2. You're a dick.
3. pi is in the public domain, thus...
4. You can't copyright and derivative of pi.
Go eat a dick.
JonathanTheBlack 7 months ago
@JonathanTheBlack Who ever would have thought that pi symphony could inspire this level of behavior...
pisymph 7 months ago
@JonathanTheBlack
What is wrong with you?
Do you really expect people to take you seriously with comments like this- or is that simply the extent of your vocabulary? The smear tactics used by this group of Blake "supporters" only makes him(Blake) look worse. Leave it alone people- it's none of your business. Leave Lars alone- Your nastiness is only a testament to your lack of class.
BTeplitsky 7 months ago
are you the dickhead trying to copyright parts of nature like they were yours?
cuntscab555 8 months ago
@cuntscab555 Dear Cunt Scab. The digits of pi are completely a man-made construct. I have copyrighted a melody.
pisymph 7 months ago
@pisymph Also, I wasn't calling you that name, it's your YouTube name.
pisymph 7 months ago
@pisymph In your explanation video above at 1:36 you clearly state that pi has "been here before the dawn of time" and thus couldn't have been man-made. The relation between circumference and diameter existed before man, and consequently not man-made.
Also, the sound of Tau uses zero as a pause. In your explanation you actually press the key after nine. How is that copyright infringement? Are you needing attention or actually an ignoramus?
I think you're jealous. Tau is far more beautiful.
robob4him 7 months ago
@robob4him I think your comment really shows who is ignorant.
pisymph 7 months ago
Your actions and your responses reek of arrogance, sir.
therealcalhounninja 8 months ago
you guys, stop getting angry, he's trying to defend his patent (which in my opinion could have been limited to a symphony instead of a melody based on pi). He's not an asshole, though i agree he could be handling this in a much better way. Also pisymph, if you wan to have musical discussions with me, that'd be awesome, you seem like an interesting person, and I am an aspiring composer
slaytesics 8 months ago
You're cabbage.
KTheRacsO 8 months ago
Hey OP, you suck. Are your copyright claims making you a ton of money right now or was it just a pointless exercise in being an asshole?
SoNDgs 8 months ago
Also, I have a great deal of work surrounding pi, and If I were to make a sound presentation of sorts, I will not answer to you or anyone. You were not the first and will not be the last to assign a string of numbers to musical notes. This is as old as computing.
So, if a site like wolfram puts audiolizations of pi, or a wolfram user does if they haven't already? Are they infringing intellectual property? You lack both. The process nor the number belong to you.
You should be more humble.
turkeydogification 8 months ago
@turkeydogification Correct. Only the melody.
pisymph 8 months ago
@pisymph If the melody, taken from pi, belongs to you, then the melody has to follow a similar cadence and rhythm; you don't necessarily own the variations created hereto from the same melody, as the song would change immensely if different meters, note lengths, chords, and the like were used.
I think it's highly selfish of you to create a melody from a mathematical number that has been "found" and close all avenues of musical interpretation at your will.
koukotsutatsujin 8 months ago
@koukotsutatsujin There are many other interpretations of pi, even literal ones, which do not sound anything like Pi Symphony.
pisymph 8 months ago
How much of a douchebag are you?? Really... Throwing a spat due to a fucking melody based on the number pi? Fuck you, seriously Fuck you. This sound like shit too even
slask25 8 months ago
@slask25 You don't know me. Your anonymous hate comment reflects your own bizarre rage.
pisymph 8 months ago
@erizle2 You really are angry.
pisymph 8 months ago
How doing about Tau? Oh, wait Michael Blake did it first and it's awesome!
moatjon 8 months ago
@moatjon Actually, when I wrote Pi Symphony, back in 1990 , I did try 2*pi. It was not interesting.
pisymph 8 months ago
@RonLussierLenscraft Yes, that would be shameful. What IS shameful is when it is asserted by others that Lars Erickson is claiming to own Pi. Yes, that is shameful. I am not hiding one bit.
pisymph 8 months ago
@pisymph Did you have to memorize many digits of pi to do this?
easylazy 8 months ago
The hate you are receiving is well deserved and you should be ashamed of yourself. The language of the comments reflects poorly on those who posted them, but the message is a poor reflection upon yourself.
modokunrepublic 8 months ago
@modokunrepublic There's nothing shameful about standing up for oneself, especially when wrongfully attacked. As much as others might try to play the victim, they are not.
pisymph 8 months ago
Tau > Pi
nooze2k 8 months ago
This douche thinks he own the Pi. Copyrighting asshole. How about copyrighting the 7maj chord, go ahead, lol, it exactly the same.
Trinivalts 8 months ago
@Trinivalts Funny how many of these comments use the pejorative term, 'douche'. Ironic, really, to be calling me, the very thing the gets to go where probably none of these guys ever do.
pisymph 8 months ago
prick.
Zakar1012712359 8 months ago
@Zakar1012712359 your comment eloquently displays your intellect.
pisymph 8 months ago
I just had to come in to say that you are a disgrace to music. I hope your next objective isn't getting a copyright for any frequency between 20Hz to 20kHz. A shame...
radium05 8 months ago
@radium05 Actually, I have no idea why you would say something so hurtful, but it says much more about you than it does about me. I copyrighted a melody, not a number.
pisymph 8 months ago
this is very interesting, I am not going to get on you for the copyright claim. My complaint about it is that it could have been a little less broad. Putting a copyright on pi would technically mean you put a copyright on every single possible melody (as pi, as we know it, is transcendental) in C major or A Minor. Though you were the first person to publish a pi piece and copyright it, I applaud your creativity, and hope this lawsuit comes to some sort of settlement soon.
slaytesics 8 months ago
@slaytesics I would never dream of trying to copyright 'pi'. I copyrighted the melody of pi symphony, based on the first 32 digits of pi, to protect these melodies from anyone who might be inclined to lift them, along with the entire concept, and claim it as an original thought..
pisymph 8 months ago
I'm just wondering.. how similar was Michael Blake's video to yours? As in, the duration of the notes, delays between notes, etc.
shantanuh 8 months ago
@JustinHEMI05 your comment says much more about you than it does about me.
pisymph 8 months ago
I feel sorry for you, sir. Everyone accusing you of "owning a number" against all logic despite you PLAINLY EXPLAINING that you own the MELODY and not the NUMBER. What idiots. Great job, sir.
hotelmario510 8 months ago
Why did you freaking copyright Michael Blake!?!? It's not like he stole it from you, he just wanted to share the love of pi. You DON'T own pi, or any pi-related-music. You shouldn't own anything related to pi, idiot.
gimmepb 8 months ago
It sounds like messed up RPG Music. I will admit it is a slightly clever idea but it really just sounds like some 5 year old hitting a keyboard and calling it music. I'm sorry, but this is an AWFUL piece of music.
6johansenad 8 months ago
The cunt who discovered the ratio PI should sue you for fucking copyright. Micheal Blake didn't copy shit of you except an idea (maybe, he might have come up with it on his own). The melody & numbers were already fucking there.
Just the fact that you disabled the ratings on this video shows what kinda public response you're getting and what kind of person you are.
PeruvianCactus 8 months ago
You can't own a number. Prick.
SinfulMirage 8 months ago
@SinfulMirage You can own a melody. You should put some pants on an run upstairs and get your mom to wash your mouth out with soap.
pisymph 8 months ago
To the Naysayers of THE PI SYMPHONY: the purpose of a musical copyright is to copyright the melody no matter where it came from . If anyone wants to dispute this take it up with the library of congress. . A mature human being would understand this and be graceful about letting the original receive credit where it is due. your Moronic comments only show your incredible ignorance and insecurity about yourself .
wilberry7 8 months ago
i want to comment
wilberry7 8 months ago
@pisynth I read it when I clicked a link to watch the video. There it was in black and white. Literally.
virgonomic 8 months ago
As a math teacher and musician I appreciate your reasons for composing and copyrighting this. However, by pulling the copyright card on Michael Blake, you are contradicting the main point of a composition like this, which is to share an appreciation of the beauty of mathematics.
virgonomic 8 months ago
@virgonomic I love math because it is very much about truth. What makes you so certain that everyone is telling the truth?
pisymph 8 months ago
You didn't discover the mathematical constant relating a circle's circumference and diamater known as pi. Nor did you create the standard numbering system of musical notes. So what makes you think you own copyrights to a melody derived directly from those two things?
doompig444 8 months ago
@doompig444 I obtained a copyright to the melody of pi symphony in 1992 for all the usual reasons that one might obtain a copyright.
pisymph 8 months ago
you don't own π
dpsantos1994 8 months ago
@dpsantos1994 that's true.
pisymph 8 months ago
Faggot.
KlauzAlAkir 8 months ago
YOU DONT OWN PI ASS HOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
apama2000 8 months ago
Is this the ass hole who's suing michael blake for copyright of the pi symphony? You didn't write the pi symphony. it was written for you. and IS being written for you by supercomputers. This whole thing is bullsh!t.
jewel819 8 months ago
@jewel819 so eloquent.
pisymph 8 months ago
I don't understand why in this case pi cannot be converted to base 8 so that they fit with the octave.
avinashp60 10 months ago
@avinashp60 That would be one of many other ways to interpret the digits of pi. Of course!
pisymph 10 months ago
zero is a rest, not a note! get it right...
twocsies 11 months ago
@twocsies it is subject to interpretation...for you zero would be a rest...for anyone else it could mean what they intrepret it as...
rainbowmusicomaha 10 months ago
You or anybody else including me can't copyright pi.
forallpurposesonly 11 months ago
@forallpurposesonly correct! Pi is a math constant. Many melodies can be made from it.
pisymph 11 months ago
@pisymph if "many melodies can be made" from Pi, then why has a supposed lawsuit been filed against Michael Blake? You COULD say it was copyright infringement, however one cannot copyright a math constant and make it their own. You could also say that this person stole your idea, however thats a bad way to look at it. Besides, imitation is the best form of flattery.
moy92 9 months ago
If Pi goes on forever then isn't every piano song ever written somewhere inside the number pi?
kyllum1 11 months ago
On the plus side, in 70 years no one will remember who first decided to use pi in a song.
Foghlay 11 months ago
@pisymph : Hello, I thoroughly enjoyed your video, it was very informative and interesting at the same time. I felt like I really wanted to buy your Pi Symphony CD but I was wondering there is an unsynthesized version of it.
Thank you again for composing the symphony and taking time to make this video. I really do hope you can respond!
Tihmily2007 11 months ago
@Tihmily2007 Hi, I would be glad to send you a CD. On my website, you can buy the 'synthesized' version, and I will send a Ruse ( live orchestra) CD. Thanks!
pisymph 11 months ago
This is a brilliant piece of work! Thanks for sharing the documentary of the performance in Ruse, as well. A lot of hard work went in to this, obviously - what a beautiful gift to the world - thank you.
composermomma 11 months ago
This is a very nice piece. I hope things work out with M Blake and both videos are available.
pdegregorio 11 months ago
Hi there, this is Jimmy from the Pi Day of Our Lives facebook event. Just wanted to say congratulations on getting your issue sorted out. I actually am a bit of a music composer myself, and I'm interested to see how many views this video picks up :)
TheDJLiquify 11 months ago
@rxrep1 truth be known....that would make you about 14 at the time...very progressive for a music school back in the dark ages...very lucky that your parents could afford a music school for you....however they did have video cameras back then.....and anything that progressive would have dozens of parents with video cameras...those big bulky things......did you also copyright it then too
rainbowmusicomaha 11 months ago
@pisymph Okay, I posted your mail to me. I maintain that one good physics degree may be worth 'several' degrees held by a self-proclaimed expert.
pisymph 11 months ago
@aliciaverdier I would like to have the power that you somehow attribute to me, but, really YouTube pulled the video. Copyrights are a handy way to show you did something. Every song exists in pi, and so does the one I have a copyright on, at the first 32 digits.
pisymph 11 months ago
@pisymph I wasn't necessarily attributing that power to you, but it *was* your actions and complaint that got the video blocked. What exactly do you mean "every song exists in pi"? Do you mean to say that pi as a transcendental number contains every possible combination of numbers within it's string? I realize that you have a copyright on YOUR melodic/rhythmic version of the first 32 digits of pi, but does that really mean that yours is the only version that could be created with them?
aliciaverdier 11 months ago
@aliciaverdier Well, good question. After a certain number of same notes, copyrights start to kick in. Any 10 number ( note) sequence can be searched and found in the digits of Pi, and pretty easily these days. Pi Symphony uses the melody in many ways.
pisymph 11 months ago
@pisymph Out of curiosity,then, what happens with 12 tone music? I would wager that from time to time, different composers end up using some of the same sequences. Does it cause copyright issues? One more question, when you listen to Michael's piece, do you hear a strong similarity? I ask that genuinely and am not trying to be snarky. I realize how text can sometimes come across negatively without that intention.
aliciaverdier 11 months ago
@aliciaverdier Yes, obviously, there is more than a similarity. I copyrighted this exact melody in 1992, and use the chord changes of both the digits of pi, and the circle of fifths. I use them extensively in Pi Symphony.
pisymph 11 months ago
@pisymph It is clearly the role of copyright to protect creativity. Copyright does not protect anything that is obvious or discoverable through ordinary knowledge. In the case of “your” melody based on pi, the assignment of the digits of pi to the various notes of the scale is based on an ordinary and obvious system that literally countless other musicians have done over the years. You were certainly not the first to do it with the number pi. I myself did it before 1992.
marklandson 11 months ago
@marklandson Well, I don't consider it particularly obvious. If you did this to 32 places, please show me your proof.
pisymph 11 months ago
@dolhaz there were NO links in the comment that I posted, which Blake deleted promptly, before blocking me in general. also, I had no vulgarity or impropriety in my comment whatsoever.
RazorsMusic 11 months ago
@dolhaz By the way, the comments were not only deleted, but also the users were BLOCKED.
pisymph 11 months ago
My pre-calc class has officially reached cool status with this link!
bub777 11 months ago
I am a friend of Michael Blake's and I can assure you all that his work was original. It is not hard to imagine how two people could come up with generative music that is similar. The comments to his video that were deleted were rude or vulgar. Other comments referencing Erickson's work were left up. It's to bad it went down this way; the popularity of Blake's video could have brought attention to Erickson's work. I hope they can work something out.
lesher13 11 months ago
Step 1: Find popular piece of music
Step 2: Find string of numbers that represent that piece of music
Step 3: That finite string of numbers is in pi somewhere
Step 4: Claim copyright violation
Step 5: Profit
zybthranger314 11 months ago
@zybthranger314 I did not copy the infinite series of the digits of pi... just the melody created by the first 32 digits.
pisymph 11 months ago
@zybthranger314
(From a Musician friend of mine...)
Pi Symphony didn't even scratch the surface of possibilities. Why not use the formula to come up with rhythms more interesting than quarter notes in 4/4 time? Add chromatisism instead of staying diotonic? Take an inversion of the theme, along with a retrograde and even retrograde inversion. Just a few of the possibilities done over the past century. I used all of these on my thesis ...
KanzlerM 11 months ago
@KanzlerM Actually, if you were to watch the two videos of Pi Symphony, you would see the melody of pi used rhythmically, upside down, backwards, major, minor, with 'e' ( what your musician friend refers to as retrograde and inverted) Yes, these all appear. I am sorry you are bent on hating it because I protected my melody before devoting my life to this, and giving it up to the world.
pisymph 11 months ago
That's pretty lame of you, man. He's not making a profit off of the video, and his interpretation is much more entertaining. You have no way of knowing if whether or not his work was inspired by your work, and just assuming it is is pretty arrogant.
lobstrain 11 months ago
@lobstrain Hi, sorry you feel that way, glad you liked his video. It wasn't bad, and you're right, I don't know for certain whether he viewed the "Explanation" video... but I do know that he blocked accounts of people who tried to reference my earlier and copyrighted work.
pisymph 11 months ago
@pisymph And?
lobstrain 11 months ago
@lobstrain Actually, he was making a profit from the song, he was selling it on iTunes.
RazorsMusic 11 months ago
@RazorsMusic Song != Video. I quite clearly remember having watched the video for free.
lobstrain 11 months ago
The problem here is that the melody that forms the basis for this pi symphony IS copyrighted, and when Michael posted his video not only did he give NO credit to Lars' pi Symphony, he proceeded to block and delete all comments concerning it. I'm glad you took a stand, Lars--it was the right thing to do.
knowsroses 11 months ago
The music is different though it draws from the same inspiration.
He may not have known about your work when he created his own. Thus no credit needs to be given as far as inspiration.
They are two different works in two different genres.
I feel it was wrong for him to remove comments on his video about your work.
Did they really grant you a copyright for all musical works based off of pi and e?
epompeii 11 months ago
happy pi day..too bad michael blocked people and would'nt give credit on his youtube video...you've worked long and hard on this for over twenty years...it would be interesting to see a discussion between the two of you debating the circle of fifths... it's obvious that he saw your explanation of pi symphony..all he had to do was give credit to those that have gone before...and not block people
rainbowmusicomaha 11 months ago
Pi is not your intellectual property.
pants7609 11 months ago
@pants7609 Of course it is not. Merely the melody of pi in base 10.
pisymph 11 months ago
@pisymph I think you were right in filing a copyright claim. The poster of the other video was blocking and deleting comments/commenters pointing our that you did this 19 years ago. Not only was he trying to pass off the work as his own original idea, but then he acted like a dirty politician, trying to cover it up when people asked him to give some credit to you.
If he had credited you as the 1st person to do this from the start I don't think you would have filed the claim.
crystalsmuse 11 months ago
...who cares what pi sounds like.
gameboy772 11 months ago
Dislike to show my support for Michael Blake. I think your copyright claim is complete BS. That'd be like copyrighting a musical interpretation of the alphabet. Pi is the public domain. If I were slightly less intelligent, I'd resort to name calling, that's how much you've ticked me off. If you succeed in holding down Michael's video, it'll be in vain as far as I'm concerned; not getting a penny from me for your inferior version.
timberwolf64 11 months ago
@pisymph So every time someone does a cover of Lady Gaga or Britney Spears on youtube you are saying that their video should be taken down? Some of youtube's most successful users make their fame and make money from improving other pieces of work. Even if MJB saw your video he made it 10x better than yours. Sorry, thats just how I feel.
jakepetersen91 11 months ago 2
@jakepetersen91 The problem wasn't that MJB did a Pi song. It was that he did the Pi song and didn't give credit. Like if someone did a cover of Lady Gaga or Britaney Spears and didn't give credit. No, no one owns the copyright to Pi.
However I think if you're the first to do something original and creative, the people paying homage to your work should credit you. Its only courteous. MHO.
crystalsmuse 11 months ago
@crystalsmuse "No, no one owns the copyright to Pi." However, @pisymph claims that "I did not copyright pi, just a melody based on it." and that "Merely the melody of pi in base 10. " is his intellectual property. To me, a copyright of pi and a copyright of the digits of pi in base 10 as notes in a scale seem to be the same thing, but not being an expert in musical copyright or whatever @pisymph may be correct, even though the 'copyright infringing' song sounds quite distinct from Pi symphony.
zybthranger314 11 months ago
I don't know who I feel worse for. Michael John Blake because you forced the removal of his video, or you for being bitter about his getting the attention today while yours didn't (that IS how this looks from the outside, by the way.) OR perhaps it's the students that were going to get a chance to see his video today, but don't get to now. Nice work.
pants7609 11 months ago
@aliciaverdier I agree. The pieces are not at all the same and I like both very much. I think you and MJB are being pretty silly blocking each other lest anyone think that either of you isn't creative. I'm sorry that there are people who don't see the beauty in both pieces and that the two of you simply used similar compositional devices. Would anyone say that no one can use a 12-tone row to compose because Schoenberg thought of it first?
MrLilNoodles 11 months ago
@pisymph Good for you! That person's a total jerk. No reason to be obnoxious like that. You can express your opinion without being profane.
browneb1965 11 months ago
Hey, I contacted him, but when people were referencing my work in his comments, he blocked their accounts. I am not trying to suppress the melody of pi, just someone taking credit for coming up with it this year when I did it 19 years ago. I completely understand, and hate doing it.
pisymph 11 months ago 2
Comment removed
kenstru 11 months ago
I like "e" it's way better than "pi". :D
PlushieClock 11 months ago
Hmmm, interesting idea. Happy travels.
ericsurf6 1 year ago
Very creative!
SuddenSymphony 1 year ago
That is smart!!
DxDutch 1 year ago
This reminds me of Béla Bartók's works being based on two opposing systems, that of the golden ratio and the acoustic scale in his Music for Strings, Percussion.
ScottyR61 1 year ago
This is an EXCELLENT video! Thank you for taking the time to create this explanation - something for me to share with those who ask about this music I have been playing. Congratulations on the upcoming performance. I hope they will be recording it when the orchestra plays it ... I want to purchase that copy! ~ mjt
OceansBrowneyedGirl 1 year ago