Welcome to NotaRe

NotaRe is a newsletter about how great music works—and why it moves us. Whether you are a musician or curious listener, you are in the right place.

What We Do

We examine how specific musical elements—both in isolation and in combination—evoke emotional and narrative responses within us during a musical passage.

At the heart of our approach is a framework built around four foundational musical "pillars":

• Organisation of Time: The presence and relative importance of temporal events—such as rhythm, meter, and tempo.
• Organisation of Pitch: The presence and relative importance of pitches—such as melody and harmony.
• Delineation of Layers: The vertical separation of music into simultaneous textural components—such as parts, roles, threads, and textures.
• Delineation of Form: The horizontal separation of music into consecutive formal units—such as motives, ideas, subphrases, phrases, and sections.

This framework—explained in detail in upcoming posts—offers a complete and unified way of breaking down music, one that anyone can grasp with a little effort.

We will initially focus on impactful, often well-known passages from the Western classical music genre, thanks to the availability of notation that allows for precise analysis and its pedagogical importance. That said, we will also venture into other genres, including:

• Film and game scores
• Pop and rock classics
• Jazz masterworks
• Contemporary hits

Have a musical moment you would like us to break down? Email us at newsletter@orphere.com.

What We Offer

We are in the final stages of preparation—but here is what you can expect once we launch:

5+ Musical Bites per month

Key insights drawn from a musical passage. These short-form posts provide a high-level understanding of what makes the music effective—like a small bite that stays with you.

Available through our free plan.

5+ Musical Recipes per month

In-depth analysis of a musical passage. These long-form posts break down the musical ingredients and artistry behind expressive effects—like a full recipe for how and why the music works so well.

Available through our premium plan at $5/month.
That's only $1 per musical recipe—and we aim to be a resource you can return to again and again.

Additional Content

We also feature articles on musical concepts, broader themes, as well as composers and performers from music's past, present and future.

What We Believe

We believe great music deserves close attention—and that the deeper we understand it, the more meaningful it becomes—whether to enjoy, create, or share.

If that resonates with you, join us.

Let’s unravel the forces that shape the art form we love—together.