Timing and Music

In this article we expand on Albert's (1995) early attempts to apply music theory to the analysis of point-timing questions—questions of when to act. Building upon the Albert P5 model by applying concepts such as tonality, rhythm, musical shape, and harmony, we seek to understand why the FBI launched its assault upon David Koresh's compound in Waco, Texas, when it did. We suggest alternative solutions that might have resolved the crisis without the loss of life and consider the contribution of music theory to the problem of timing in general.