Through all the bygone ages, Philosophers and sages Have meditated on the circle's mysteries. From Euclid to Pythagoras, From Gauss to Anaxag'ras, Their thoughts have filled the libr'ies bulging histories. And yet there was elation Throughout the whole Greek nation When Archimedes did his mighty computation! ... He said: Kaplansky's song structure AA' B AA' (B/2)A" Numerals give melodic scale tones3 1 4 1 5 9 A Three One Four One Oh My, 2 6 5 3 5 8 9 7 Here's A Song To Sing About Pi A' Not a sigma or mu but a well-known Greek letter too B You can have your alphas and your great phi-bates, and omegas for a friend, But that's just what a circle doesn't have -- the beginning or an end 3 1 4 1 5 9 A Three One Four One Five Nine 2 6 5 3 5 8 9 7 Is A Ratio We Don't Define A' Two pi times radii gives circumf'rence you can rely (B/2) If you square the radius times the pi, you will get the circle's space 3 1 4 1 5 9 A" Here's My Song About Pi, fit for a mathematician's embrace
recording: Lucy Kaplansky [YouTube]
notes: Irving Kaplansky on song structure [Celebratio Mathematica]