tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35567840.post3281069711476397176..comments2023-10-22T02:42:24.410-05:00Comments on Daniel Thompson-Microtonal Composer: The Measurement of PitchDaniel Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16678739642833104564noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35567840.post-43390754942336066952006-12-30T15:00:00.000-06:002006-12-30T15:00:00.000-06:00Thank you, Mr. Scott, for your comments. You expos...Thank you, Mr. Scott, for your comments. You exposed a bias in my article that I have no choice but <br />to admit. This article was limited to tuning systems based on octaves, but I did not mean to imply that you have to base music on octaves. <br /><br />I feel that it is useful to use the abstract notion of precisely tuned octaves to demonstrate the <br />different properties of "purely" tuned intervals as opposed to tempered intervals. I believe that <br />octaves are very important to both the history and theory of music and that they are a powerful force,<br />but not absolute. <br /><br />I am also willing to admit that the importance of the octave may be<br />somewhat exaggerated. Certainly, some of the studies that you have mentioned are suspect and may have <br />been misinterpreted. It is also likely that the numerical fascination that many theorists have with small whole number ratios may have contributed to an over emphasis on the importance of the octave and, possibly, a biased interpretation of the music of other cultures.<br /><br />I have experimented with non octave music and have been impressed with the possibilities. Since a type of conflict arises in systems of just intonation, I feel it is also worthwhile to explore intervals that aren't purely tuned. This could include tempered devisions of the octave or music that disposes of the octave entirely. I am actually working on an article about non octave music. I am having some trouble because I feel that I have a lot more to learn about the subject. I also plan on spending more time on<br />my non octave compositions after I finish some other projects.<br /><br />Thanks again for your comments. I didn't intend to present personal preferences or common misperceptions as scientific fact. Please feel free to contact me personally or leave another comment if you feel there are other problems with my<br />article that I haven't addressed.Daniel Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16678739642833104564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35567840.post-48300034593724101292006-12-29T23:21:00.000-06:002006-12-29T23:21:00.000-06:00It is my opinion that there are a lot of personal ...It is my opinion that there are a lot of personal preferences, as well as common misperceptions being represented as scientific fact in this article.<br /><br />There was a japanese researcher who discovered the world's best superconductor before the people who patented it, but he didn't bother to test the substance because he was told by authorities that it was a certain color that never produces good superconductors. And so he missed out on the discovery of a lifetime.<br /><br />Likewise, a lot of people miss 99.999% of the vast unexplored continents of microtonality because they read textbooks and psychoticacoustical studies done with 7 participants, all of whom are graduate music students with 4 years of ear training.<br /><br />I recommend that everyone forget <B>everything</b> that is being said or taught or thought about microtonality and just start writing music outside of 12. Don't limit yourselves to octaves, or one sort of interval, or whatever, just try everything you can think of, no matter what color it is, no matter what the self-styled experts tell you, and find out for yourself what works through the amazing phenomenon and truth of first person get your hands dirty experience. None of the theory people write music anyway, so no one will lose out on anything by ignoring 100% of what they write about in their prestigious journals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35567840.post-55047641044664452572006-12-03T10:38:00.000-06:002006-12-03T10:38:00.000-06:00well written!well written!Scott Stamblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10644332475904186077noreply@blogger.com