(Pulling this from the last thread before by browser explodes on the thread length...)
Damien asked:
"Is the crux of the argument against a set or standard tuning essentially a defense of what would be labled dissonance by a conservative Western musical tradition?"
No, not at all. It is a common misperception that microtonal music is dissonant. This is because many early 20th century works labelled microtonal featured 24 tone equal temperament pieces written in a serialist style. 24tET, or quartertone tuning, was chosen because it was easy to tune and play if you have two pianos and 4 hands. But it is a rather dissonant tuning that does not have particularly attractive resources.
"Is it to say, any tuning, or lack thereof is an equal expression of musical beauty...or...?"
Ivor Darreg, the renowned instrument builder and microtonalist said "There are no bad tunings." It takes a while to actually get to the point where you can largely agree with this statement. I fought it for years but I think I have given in. Now that is not to say that all tunings sound the same or one tuning is as good as another or as useful for the same things. Different tunings bring different resources to the table.
"Does harmony at that point become obsolete?"
No! Not at all!!! NEW harmonic resources become available, that is more of the point, at least for some of us.
Look at traditional Jazz: in addition to the standard set of intervals, they introduce harmonic scales and septimal (7-based) intervals like the perfectly consonant subminor third, a frequency ratio of 7/6, also known as the flat or blues third. And in comes the harmonic seventh at 7:4, also a highly harmonic interval, far more harmonic than any of the traditional sevenths.
So that's just one advantage - more consonant intervals. You can also have more neutral intervals, and more dissonant intervals, all depending on the scale. Some people become interested in the most consonant intervals only. But remember that music is not about stasis, it is about contrast. Stasis can be integrated but should not be the only element, change is also needed.
Damien asked:
"Is the crux of the argument against a set or standard tuning essentially a defense of what would be labled dissonance by a conservative Western musical tradition?"
No, not at all. It is a common misperception that microtonal music is dissonant. This is because many early 20th century works labelled microtonal featured 24 tone equal temperament pieces written in a serialist style. 24tET, or quartertone tuning, was chosen because it was easy to tune and play if you have two pianos and 4 hands. But it is a rather dissonant tuning that does not have particularly attractive resources.
"Is it to say, any tuning, or lack thereof is an equal expression of musical beauty...or...?"
Ivor Darreg, the renowned instrument builder and microtonalist said "There are no bad tunings." It takes a while to actually get to the point where you can largely agree with this statement. I fought it for years but I think I have given in. Now that is not to say that all tunings sound the same or one tuning is as good as another or as useful for the same things. Different tunings bring different resources to the table.
"Does harmony at that point become obsolete?"
No! Not at all!!! NEW harmonic resources become available, that is more of the point, at least for some of us.
Look at traditional Jazz: in addition to the standard set of intervals, they introduce harmonic scales and septimal (7-based) intervals like the perfectly consonant subminor third, a frequency ratio of 7/6, also known as the flat or blues third. And in comes the harmonic seventh at 7:4, also a highly harmonic interval, far more harmonic than any of the traditional sevenths.
So that's just one advantage - more consonant intervals. You can also have more neutral intervals, and more dissonant intervals, all depending on the scale. Some people become interested in the most consonant intervals only. But remember that music is not about stasis, it is about contrast. Stasis can be integrated but should not be the only element, change is also needed.
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Re: What's the advantage of tuning?
Mon, January 3, 2005 - 10:42 PMGotcha! Thanks for breaking it down for me. Definitely a very interesting new world appears before my eyes through your perspective. :-) I appreciate it!
