Medieval Modes Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

FluteLlama: It is with great sorrow that I must bid this cache farewell. It was near & dear to my heart, not only b/c it is about Music Theory, but also b/c the location has sentimental value to me as well. But, alas, I cannot tend to this cache any longer, and I understand that it has been missing for awhile. Nobody has responded to my plea for adoption. And so, goodbye, Medieval Modes. :( FluteLlama

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Hidden : 6/19/2008
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

UP FOR ADOPTION: The actual cache is not at these coordinates, but you can likely park on the street near here. (The nearby Parking Lot is restricted for Teaching Staff, so its best not to park inside their lot.) In order to decipher the coords for this cache’s REAL LOCATION, you’ll need a little musical knowledge, particularly in the areas of something called MODES and Scale Degrees.

Modes are just different types of “scales”…well, sorta. You’ve all likely heard about the Major Scales and the Minor Scales, and some may have heard about the Pentatonic Scale (all the Black keys on the piano make up this scale). But there are several more ways to arrange the various notes into an organized pattern of intervals, and some of these are called Modes.

Your first stop should be this webpage: (visit link)
(NOTE: This Website was down on 12/31/08 & I have no idea if it'll be put back up. If not, then just assign numbers to the correct Mode on the next link below.)
The chart you’ll be needing is at the bottom of the page and refers to MEDIEVAL MODES. Be sure to use the Medieval ones (ascending), not the Original Greek ones. Take note of the Scale Degrees (aka numbers) at the top of the chart.

But there are seven Modes to choose from. However will you know which one I mean for you to use?
(visit link)
You’ll need this webpage in order to decide which Mode it is you will be using to break the Code.

Somewhere on this page is an homage to the Beatles, who used Modes in much of their songwriting. What Mode did they use to write the song that is mentioned there? That Mode will be the Mode you are to use to “crack the code” for the coords. You can even click on the link and give a listen to this hauntingly beautiful song.

For a real treat, get your gears all revved up and ready for the excitement of GeoCaching by scrolling down a bit further and listening to an excerpt called “Fete” by Claude Debussy. No, it’s not required in order to do the cache, but I think you might enjoy it. It’s a rollicking, almost frenetic dance that gets your Caching juices flowin’.

Fill in the missing numbers for the real cache location:

N FMajor 8° Eminor Dminor . Eminor Eminor Dminor

W Dminor Eminor Dminor ° Aminor 9 . Dminor 9 Aminor

I hope you have fun with this one while learning some Music Theory. And in case you’re interested in learning any more about it, this is THE place to be.

Cache container is a sprinkler head…the one with the GOLD pop-up part. Please do not take apart the other sprinklers. Leave it in the ground & just unscrew the top & pop off the rubber part, then you can pull up the inner cylinder which contains the log & a FTF loot.

Original Contents: Log (no pen though, so please bring your own) and an 8th Notes/Bell/Bead Charm Pin.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

pna or ernpurq sebz cnirq jnyxjnl, ab arrq gb ohfujunpx

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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