Golden ratio in Music

[gore234]

Has anyone studied any particular pieces and found how the golden ratio could be applied to it?  The gold ratio is 1.61803398875. 

I looked at one of Scarlatti's sonatas and it had 31 measures so I divided it by 1.61 and got about 19.25.  A lot of Scarlatti's sonatas are in binary form and I noticed that the first part of the sonata that is in the tonic is 13 measures and the second half is 18 measures which is pretty close to 19.25

The golden ratio is also found in nature and artwork.  I'm wondering if composers thought about using the golden ratio while composing or it just came naturally to them.

[hardy_practice]

Check out Mozart's K533.  I found all sorts of things there.

[mjames]

Highly doubt that most of them thought about math when composing, it just comes naturally. lol

[chicoscalco]

Highly doubt that most of them thought about math when composing, it just comes naturally. lol

Although the golden ratio in particular is questionable, they obviously thought about math when composing.

[pianoman53]

Although the golden ratio in particular is questionable, they obviously thought about math when composing.

Eeeh? Either that, or they just realized what sounds good and what doesn't.

[gore234]

The human body also shows the golden ratio.  A lot of people think math is boring and would never think it could be used in art.

[hardy_practice]

Is not the humble credit card made on the golden ratio?

[cantabrigians]

Is not the humble credit card made on the golden ratio?

No, it isn't. Standard credit card dimensions are 85.60mm × 53.98mm, giving a ratio of about 1.586; golden ratio is about 1.608; so close, but no cigar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_7810

[hardy_practice]

Given up smoking anyway.  Then there's the Parthenon - measure that wise guy!