Re: Hello! & Microtonality For Gene

-----Original Message-----
In [MMM] Digest Number 1515, JON L SMITH wrote:
>
> Hello friends. Just thought it was about time to introduce myself. I've
been privately composing music of all sorts for a number of years, and have
only recently gotten a PC and Internet access. I discovered tuning theory
through Partch's "Genesis Of A Music" while still in college and have been
fascinated ever since, though I have only been able to devote myself to
composing within the last year -- and brother, there's a lot of stuff in
here just dying to see the light of day.
>
> I have to confess to an astounding ignorance of matters in general, so
please bear with me should I ask apparently dense questions about tuning,
software or the Internet. I've just purchased the Orion Pro software (I've
been using the demo version for months) and have also downloaded Scala. Any
help with figuring out some of Scala's finer points will earn my undying
gratitude!
>
> Interested parties will find a little of my music posted at:
>
> http://artistgigs.com/artist.pl?id=1487
>
> Listening/downloading is free, though registration is required (sorry!).
A little techno, a little classical crossover.
>
> Anyway, thanks for your help in advance. Glad to be here!
>
[snip]

> ... only the following three pieces employ non-standard tunings:
>
> "Ocean Of Fire" 1/1 12/11 9/8 11/9 5/4 4/3 11/8 3/2
18/11 5/3 11/6 15/8
>
> "Dream In Overdrive" vina tuning of K.S. Subramanian
(indian-vina3.scl)
>
> " 'Ud & Nay" 'ud: Paul Erlich's 12 of 22-tet Pythagorean
(12-22a.scl)
> nay: 12 of 24-tet
>
> Of the above three, only "'Ud & Nay" is short enough not to bore you.
>
[snip]

> In "Ocean" I wanted a non-Pythagorean JI rationalization of an
> Arabic mode, so I chose 12/11 and 18/11 (150.6 & 852.6) to obtain
> the "neutral second" sound so prevalent in their music. A composer's
> choice based on the musical need of the moment.
>
> I'd be happy to e-mail you an mp3 file of anything I have, to
> download at your leisure. BTW, please DO criticize my work! How am I
> supposed to continue growing as an artist without feedback? No
> offense will be taken: "What does not kill me, will make me
> stronger." (Nietzsche).
>
> Please let me know where I can hear some of your own works!
> Presently I'm working on a techno piece with F. Jedrzejewski's JI 11-
> tet, and a more lyric piece for two guitars and strings with that
> wonderful vina tuning.

[Gene Ward Smith]
> ... there are
> short descriptions to go with each piece. I think a few words about
> each of your pieces would be a great addition to your ArtistGigs page.
>
> > Of the above three, only "'Ud & Nay" is short enough not to bore you.
>
> Mahler's Third Symphony isn't long enough to bore me. What will bore
> me is not finding enough that my ear thinks is interesting. I did like
> 'Ud and Nay the best of these three; I think more happened in less
> space of time, and it had less of a pop sound to it. That is another
> tastes differ issue of course.

Hi Jon!

Pleased to have you here. Even more pleased
to _hear_ that you use microtonality as yet
another musical resource. You seem to have
assimilated the technical lingo pretty well.
I ask much dumber questions than almost
anyone, but that way I keep on learning, so
please feel free to ask about anything you
think we may be able to help you with.

Before reading your message about which
pieces are microtonal, I had already chosen
three different pieces for download. There
is so much of your music avaialable there
(NOT a bad thing!) that, as Gene said, it would
be very helpful to have some kind of guidance
from you as to what to expect. That way,
listeners who like pop sounds, or light classical,
or Indian tunings, could try those straight
away. When bandwidth is an issue (as it was
for me until very recently), most people will
give up after one or two lengthy downloads that
prove unrewarding.

So, now I have downloaded SIX of your pieces,
and will listen to them when I take my lunch
break later today.

Regards,
Yahya
------------------------------------------------
Yahya Abdal-Aziz
Melbourne PC User Group
Convener, Graphics Interest Group
Convener, Music Interest Group
------------------------------------------------

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Well, Jon (Lyle Smith), I've just listened (twice
or more each) to the six of yours I downloaded
two days ago:

- Aurora
- Crystalline
- Valse
- Dream In Overdrive
- Ocean Of Fire
- 'Ud And Nay

The first two I found competent and pleasant, if
perhaps a little "generic". I could hear them again.

I was a little disappointed that your "'Ud And Nay"
was not longer. What I heard I enjoyed, but it
seemed undeveloped and unfinished.

I can't pick my favourite between "Dream In
Overdrive" & "Ocean Of Fire" - they're both good,
texturally interesting and just that little bit
different in sound. I will be listening to them again!

Your "Valse" will bring about obvious comparisons
with Satie's "Gymnop�dies", but I don't care! :-)
I wish I had written it. And it seems so apt to the
album title "Shards of Memory".

I'm glad you've taken up composing full-time.
Thank you very much for sharing this music with us!

Regards,
Yahya

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