'mi contra fa, Diabolus est in musica'

Diabolus in Musica was a medieval term for the tritone (augmented fourth or diminished fifth). It divides the octave into two equal parts.

In the medieval system of church modes the tritone was most conspicuous as the interval between the final and the fourth degree of the modes on F the Lydian and Hypolydian.

The first mention of the word "tritonus" seems to be in the 9th or 10th century organum treatise "Musica Enchiriadis", though it was not explicitly prohibited until the development of Guido of Arezzo's hexachordal system. From then until the end of the Renaissance the tritone, nicknamed Diabolus in Musica, was regarded as a dangerous interval associated with evil and was banned by the church as being thought to summon Satan.

Those found using the chord were routinely subjected to slow torturous death by genital mutilation and the administering of such implements as the skull crusher, the breast breaker and the wheel. Burnings at the stake were also favoured.

This is the place where I shall list some of my favourite sounds and music. I listen to a reasonably wide range of music, but it has to be said that I am drawn to experimental and dark musical forms whether they be fast and brutal guitar oriented music or vast disturbing industrial symphonies. Here I intend to investigate the nether regions of music, some of it is readily acceptable (though far from mainstream), some of it requires a certain palate, and some of it is just painful to hear.