source file: mills3.txt Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 07:22:47 +0100 Subject: equal temp discussion From: bq912@freenet.uchsc.edu (Neil G. Haverstick) Ed...my apologies for not quite getting my point across in the way I intended...yes, I am aware that well temps were used by Bach and others. What I was trying to do was make the point that temperaments, in general, were an attempt to deal with music that modulated a great deal...I am sure that Bach must have used equal at times, as in his Lute works, but it seems that well temperaments were certainly in use in his time. Believe me, I am no expert on that subject, and would be happy to study and learn more about it. I find it interesting that, apparently, Bach himself did not write in any detail about tuning systems...are there any known quotes from him about this subject? Carl...your comments about the versatility of just are well taken. Again, I don't think I got my point across very well...when I speak about the practicality of equal temps as opposed to just, I am thinking in a very broad sense, of many different instruments being able to make music using tunings that are applicable to many different situations. As you pointed out, the guitar might not even be useful in some of the just tunings you refer to...so, it wouldn'd do me and zillions of other guitarists much good. When you speak of a keyboard that could play a just tuned Mysteries, I think that's wonderful and meaningful...but, could a flute player solo over the changes on a just flute? A sax? When all players can participate in pure tunings on a practical, everyday level, then I think equal temperaments have met their match. Morrison...I also need to back up a tad, and rephrase an earlier comment about tunings with many notes being very difficult to play chord changes (such as jazz) on. Actually, I believe I can do it on my 31 tone axe, which I have not yet begun to work with too much...it is for future projects. The 34 tone tuning, however, has that comma, and that makes it hard, indeed, to play Charlie Parker stuff on. Impossible? I cannot yet say, but I am sure I will give it a go in a later date. There are physical realities connected with various instruments...saxophones, for example, cannot play chords, no matter what you do (maybe if you use an electronic harmonizer, but I mean naturally). A tuning with a zillion notes does present physical challenges, such as teensy frets on a guitar...chalenges are great, and spur one on to greater goals. Right now, 19 tone eq is killer for advanced bop stuff, and harder than shit to do...just try it for yourself, and you'll see what I mean...if I want to make it more difficult, than I'll perhaps write "Giant Steps" and others in 31. Starrett has already suggested a project where we do jazz standards in 31, so I am sure we will...Hstick SMTPOriginator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu From: mr88cet@texas.net (Gary Morrison) Subject: Re: equal temp discussion PostedDate: 01-12-97 15:57:00 SendTo: CN=coul1358/OU=AT/O=EZH ReplyTo: tuning@eartha.mills.edu $MessageStorage: 0 $UpdatedBy: CN=notesrv2/OU=Server/O=EZH,CN=coul1358/OU=AT/O=EZH,CN=Manuel op de Coul/OU=AT/O=EZH RouteServers: CN=notesrv2/OU=Server/O=EZH,CN=notesrv1/OU=Server/O=EZH RouteTimes: 01-12-97 15:55:18-01-12-97 15:55:19,01-12-97 15:55:14-01-12-97 15:55:15 DeliveredDate: 01-12-97 15:55:15 Categories: $Revisions: Received: from ns.ezh.nl ([137.174.112.59]) by notesrv2.ezh.nl (Lotus SMTP MTA SMTP v4.6 (462.2 9-3-1997)) with SMTP id C1256560.0051F595; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 15:55:12 +0100 Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA03525; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 15:57:00 +0100 Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 15:57:00 +0100 Received: from ella.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA03523 Received: (qmail 29018 invoked from network); 1 Dec 1997 06:56:53 -0800 Received: from localhost (HELO ella.mills.edu) (127.0.0.1) by localhost with SMTP; 1 Dec 1997 06:56:53 -0800 Message-Id: Errors-To: madole@mills.edu Reply-To: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Sender: tuning@eartha.mills.edu