semicomma pump

Here is a short piece in 53-edo:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6168459

A few weeks ago I posted a similar piece, schisma pump. I finally
figured out that 12-edo tempers the schisma, so that piece didn't
distinguish 12-edo from 53-edo. So I created this new piece which is
quite similar, but pumps the semicomma instead, something that 53-edo
can do but 12-edo can't.

Jim

Hi Jim,

For some reason Soundclick is requiring me to register. :(

-Carl

At 08:46 AM 1/14/2008, you wrote:
>Here is a short piece in 53-edo:
>
>http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6168459
>
>A few weeks ago I posted a similar piece, schisma pump. I finally
>figured out that 12-edo tempers the schisma, so that piece didn't
>distinguish 12-edo from 53-edo. So I created this new piece which is
>quite similar, but pumps the semicomma instead, something that 53-edo
>can do but 12-edo can't.
>
>Jim

Maybe you tried to cut & paste the URL but missed part or something?
I tried the URL & could get in OK without signing in... but maybe I
have a golden cookie or something. I think it ought to be directly
available, though!

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Carl Lumma <carl@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> For some reason Soundclick is requiring me to register. :(
>
> -Carl
>
> At 08:46 AM 1/14/2008, you wrote:
> >Here is a short piece in 53-edo:
> >
> >http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6168459
> >
> >A few weeks ago I posted a similar piece, schisma pump. I finally
> >figured out that 12-edo tempers the schisma, so that piece didn't
> >distinguish 12-edo from 53-edo. So I created this new piece which
is
> >quite similar, but pumps the semicomma instead, something that 53-
edo
> >can do but 12-edo can't.
> >
> >Jim
>

Jim K wrote:
> Maybe you tried to cut & paste the URL but missed part or something? > I tried the URL & could get in OK without signing in... but maybe I > have a golden cookie or something. I think it ought to be directly > available, though!
> > --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Carl Lumma <carl@...> wrote:
>> Hi Jim,
>>
>> For some reason Soundclick is requiring me to register. :(
>>
>> -Carl

One of the annoying things about Soundclick is that you need to sign in in order to download. There are options to play (lo-fi or hi-fi) without downloading, but getting it to work properly seems to be more effort than just signing in (not that I put much effort into trying to figure out how to get the "play" options to work, but ...).

The semicomma is one of the intervals tempered out in orwell temperament, and so the 5-limit temperament that tempers it out has been named "orson". I've found that extended tertian harmony (with lots of 7th and 9th chords, etc) is useful if you're trying to make a comma pump for this interval. To be honest, with a sequence of single notes like this, it's hard to tell the difference between a comma pump and aimless wandering. It needs a sense of having a tonic to return to, and that's easier to establish with a harmonic progression. You'd need a better sense of pitch even than most musicians with absolute pitch to distinguish all the pitches of 53-EDO without any kind of context.

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Herman Miller <hmiller@...>
wrote:
> One of the annoying things about Soundclick is that
> you need to sign in in order to download.
> There are options to play (lo-fi or hi-fi) without downloading,

Ah, I've never hit the "download" button! I just listen in lo-fi. I
just use the "pluck" operator in CSound - there is not much to be
gained with higher fidelity!

> with a sequence of single notes like this,
> it's hard to tell the difference
> between a comma pump and aimless wandering.
> It needs a sense of having a tonic to return to,
> and that's easier to establish with a harmonic progression.

Thanks, this is really helpful! Unfortunately I am really a
mathematician and computer programmer - my relationship to music is
just love, not even a wisp of expertise. So I just blunder - but with
some course correction like this, maybe I can keep moving forward,
however slowly.

Jim