3(+?) tuning lists

Hi, I'm new to this list so I'm writing to express my interests and to seek
clarification about the number of yahoo tuning lists:

1. By using key words to search yahoo lists I found 3 lists:
tuning@yahoogroups.com
MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com and
metatuning@yahoogroups.com

could someone please clarify this division as it's not clear to me by
reading through the postings? (is there a FAQ which answers this?).

2. I've always been interested in the relationship between music and
mathamatics, beyond this the issues that I would like to discuss on the
appropriate lists are:

i). African tunings: I grew up in Africa and love the music. I recently
read: 'Africa and the Blues' by Gerhard Kubik (University Press of
Mississipi. ISBN 1-57806-146-6). I don't know if this has been discussed
here but would like to know which yahoo list is the appropriate one on
which to initiate such a discussion?
(See quote at end of this mail).

ii). I seek guidence on buying a suitable microtunable syth module. Before
I go into the detail of my needs I first need to know which list is the
appropriate one on which to pose my questions?

My apologies to those who recieve multiple copies of this mail, I'm posting
it to all 3 of the above lists.

with respect
Gerry Platt.

"The ideal harmonics-based pentatonic system over a single fundamental
incorperates tones representing partials 4 to 9. Characteristically, it
extends beyond the scope of a single octave, with its lower component
forming a tetratonic pattern. From bottom to top the scale goes like this:
0 cents / 386 cents / 702 cents /969 cents / 1200 cents / 1404 cents. This
scale, if sung in descending order, sounds stunningly blues-like, though
this is hardly the whole storey".
Gerhard Kubik.

(I've slightly edited the above. GP.).

--- In MakeMicroMusic@y..., Gerry Platt <gp@d...> wrote:

/makemicromusic/topicId_1752.html#1752

> Hi, I'm new to this list so I'm writing to express my interests and
to seek
> clarification about the number of yahoo tuning lists:
>
> 1. By using key words to search yahoo lists I found 3 lists:
> tuning@y...
> MakeMicroMusic@y... and
> metatuning@y...
>
> could someone please clarify this division as it's not clear to me
by
> reading through the postings? (is there a FAQ which answers this?).
>

****Hello Gerry!

Well, "list moderator" Jon Szanto will probably get to your question
as well, but I can answer it now.

You've really found the three groups that, frankly, are of *most*
interest to me.

The "Tuning" group is the largest one, and tends to be
somewhat "theoretical" in nature.

This group "MakeMicroMusic" is the *practical* spin-off from the main
Tuning List. It's about actually *composing* and also involves the
discussion of hardware and software to do this.

"Metatuning" is for any issues *not* specifically related to Tuning
but which are obsessing the Tuning Posters.... Since we pretty much
know one another after all these posts on the lists...

There is one more: tuning-math @ yahoo.com

/tuning-math/messages

which is even *more* mathematical than the general *Tuning* list.

That list is mostly for specialists, but you might care to look at it
as well...

> 2. I've always been interested in the relationship between music and
> mathamatics, beyond this the issues that I would like to discuss on
the
> appropriate lists are:
>
> i). African tunings: I grew up in Africa and love the music. I
recently
> read: 'Africa and the Blues' by Gerhard Kubik (University Press of
> Mississipi. ISBN 1-57806-146-6). I don't know if this has been
discussed
> here but would like to know which yahoo list is the appropriate one
on
> which to initiate such a discussion?

> (See quote at end of this mail).

*****Since you are interested in a discussion of *theory* I,
personally, would say the general "big" Tuning List would be best...

>
> ii). I seek guidence on buying a suitable microtunable syth module.
Before
> I go into the detail of my needs I first need to know which list is
the
> appropriate one on which to pose my questions?

*****And, this question, I believe, would go best on the list you're
on: MakeMicroMusic.

Jon Szanto, I'm sure, will be welcoming you to the community...

best wishes,

Joseph Pehrson

P.S. Aside from the 4 tuning lists I've mentioned, there are
other "temporary" and rather "inactive" ones... but, personally, I
wouldn't concern myself with those if I were you...

--- In MakeMicroMusic@y..., Gerry Platt <gp@d...> wrote:
> Hi

And the same back to you! Joseph and Jeff gave very good replies, and
I have little to add, so it's just a clarifying (since I'm the guy
that started up this list [with some help] I thought I'd weigh in).

I'll second the general descriptions; so that you know, tuning@ was
the original tuning list, going back to about 1994-5. It has a
longish history, and while first starting out the posts touched on
many topics, it has *gradually* steered to a theory-centric path.
This is not to say music hasn't been posted there, or that
discussions haven't gone in other directions. But it did develop a
trend, and there came a time when other lists spun off. Of these, I
think you'll most be interested in:

1. MakeMicroMusic, which is us: you'll find direct answers from
people who either use computers/synths to make their music, or build
instruments (or adapt existing ones), and a blending of the two. This
is a fine collection of people who know how to use existing tools to
turn the theory of non-12tet music into actual pieces, and I've
always been amazed at the depth of experience, from gear to
intonational understanding. If you want to make it, this is it.

2. tuning-math: this is hard-core stuff, but if you really hard an in-
depth question or proposal at the intersection of math and music,
these people know their stuff. Not many actively post, but those that
do are prodigious and worthy.

Also, if it is math/music of a more general nature, go ahead and post
to tuning itself: you'll reach the most people, and if someone thinks
you'll get a better answer at tuning-math, they'll let you know.

3. Finally, I don't think you need to worry about meta-tuning right
now - it's mainly there as a "hey, why don't you two take it outside
already!" kind of place! :)

So you know, tuning has 500+ members, while the other lists are all
less than 70. Broad reach at tuning, focus groups at the others.

> My apologies to those who recieve multiple copies of this mail, I'm
> posting it to all 3 of the above lists.

How else would we know? One last thing: the 'files' section here on
Yahoo was, at best, crappy, so I opened up a domain/site with the
express purpose for facilitating sharing of music files. It is only
about a week old, but there are a few things up there:

http://www.microtonal.org/

And be very sure to check out our own Jacky Ligon's "The Microtonal
Activist":

http://tma.asgarddesign.net/

Welcome to all the other pitches that exist!

Cheers,
Jon (listMom)