source file: m1607.txt Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 17:38:28 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Partch/Motorola Scalatron From: Johnny Reinhard On Fri, 18 Dec 1998, Kraig Grady wrote: > It is my understanding that when Partch was offered use of the Motorola > Scalatron He refused > -- > Kraig Grady > North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island > http://www.anaphoria.com > >From what I remember learning, the Motorola Scalatron tone was designed specifically to have a tone that is distinctive to all others. Partch was not the only one to refuse using it. And I have had it played on the AFMM concerts several times (music of Joel Mandelbaum, Linda Arditto, Henk Badings). It sure holds its pitch, but the sound is not especially pleasing. In 1950, the idea of radically changing the timbre of a keyboard (Partch's first, main instrument was the piano, according to the Gilmore bio) would be radical in itself. So, a synthesizer was not yet imagineable. A generalized keyboard for an organ with a chosen electronic tone quality was a specific dream of Partch's since his earliest microtonal thinkings. Ten years after his death (1984) a time capsule left with Bertha Kneisley turned up the original multi-colored keyboard plan devised by far-thinking Harry Partch. Considering that Partch was fascinated with micing the Kithara, as well as electrifying his guitars, an electric keyboard both accurate and beautiful was right on the money. The chromelodeon: could hold pitch, unacceptale musicality, unable to sound clean in fast passage, difficult to move, temperamental at best... Johnny Reinhard Director American Festival of Microtonal Music reinhard@idt.net