The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization is a 1953 jazz music theory book written by George Russell. The book is the founding text of the Lydian Chromatic Concept (LCC), or Lydian Chromatic Theory (LCT). Russell's work postulates that all music is based on the tonal gravity of the Lydian mode.
Deriving Lydian
Russell believed that dominant function was the driving force behind all harmonic motion. Russell focuses on the Lydian mode because it can be built with fifths. For instance, to construct a C Lydian scale one could list the first seven tones on the circle of fifths starting with C, the desired Lydian Tonic. This process would yield C, G, D, A, E, B, F♯. If these tones are voiced in the space of an octave, they form the Lydian mode (C, D, E, F♯, G, A, B). Additionally, Russell observed, when these tones are voiced in thirds they form the preferred form of a major 13 (#11) chord.
The Lydian Chromatic Scale
Russell builds a prototype chromatic scale starting on the Lydian Tonic by stacking...