A musical cryptogram is a sequence of pitches that utilizes the relationship between the note names and letters of the alphabet to spell out words. Most often, it has been used by composers to secretly embed their own name or initials into a piece of music. A lot of composers use the German spelling for the notes so that in addition to the musical letters A-B-C-D-E-F-G, it also includes the letters H and S on chromatic pitches.

Arts Alive
From the Central Coast to San Diego, from Santa Monica to Palm Springs, there are fascinating people creating incredible art and performances. KUSC will be covering those experiences on Arts Alive. And when you’re in the mood for a little more, like a longer version of an interview, more Arts Alive coverage is available online at kusc.org/artsalive.