chords. noun. groups of single pitches.

harmony. noun. multiple pitches put together.

there's another reason i chose euphonous, besides its meaning. another two reasons, really. euphonous is one of those words that sound beautiful, like sellout or cellar door. not necessarily beautiful in meaning, but beautiful in sound. euphony also does not only apply to music itself, but is another important term for literary and poetic analysis.

i'm avoiding the question, i know. the second reason is simple: i spent two years reading almost exclusively 19th century literature from england and france. i've since diversified my reading (only 19th century literature does get boring), but i submersed myself in this archaic terminology. euphonous, quitted, countenance, &c.

not just that, though. the main point: i am a musician, specifically a pianist and choir alto. chords are the foundation of piano and (western) choir both, the foundation of most western music. we use chords in order to construct melodies, to construct both euphony and cacophony.

so therefore, perhaps chords are the root of both euphony and cacophony.