12/13/2009

A Nice Piece in Seventeen Tone Equal Temperament


I know from personal experience that seventeen tone equal temperament (seventeen equally spaced tones per octave) can be a challenging tuning. It sometimes comes across as harsh and dissonant. However, it also has a softer side. I think the producers of this piece did an excellent job of showing how pleasant music can emerge from what might seem like an unpromising tuning system. I think their choice of instrument and style is a good match for the unique possibilities of this particular tuning.


Seventeen Dragon Dreams (Music and Video by Sethares and Crowly)


Here is one of my compositions in seventeen tone equal temperament.