RE: what is JI music?

> A piece of mine for just-tuned piano was first performed on September 28,
> and when a piano could not be tuned and a suitable synthesizer could not
> be found, I decided that the musical purpose of the piece could still be
> expressed on an ordinary piano, dull tuning. Although the intended
> 11-limit tuning varies far from equal temperament, it is octave-repeating
> and fits under the hands well. No pitch strays much more than a
> quarter-tone from its 12TET version. The piece was received extremely
> well, with hosannas all around.
This seems to show the "intentional fallacy": the idea that art can
only be enjoyed by apprehending it or understanding it in the way that the
artist intended. Hearing the piece on a 12-TET piano must have driven your
ears crazy though!

> Can a composer write JI music that provides tonal motion rather than just
> common-tone modulation? Can this be done with a mere 12 notes or less?
>
> If the answer to these is "no", for what style is JI best suited?

I believe that most composers who work in Just Intonation use more
than twelve tones per octave. Using only twelve precludes a large difference
in the complexity of the ratios involved; the difference between dissonance
and consonance is reduced. Using more than twelve allows you the same
relative levels of dissonance and consonance as are found in 12-TET.
You didn't mention what sort of people you played the
synthesizer tape for. If they were people who had heard the piano
performance, then naturally the JI version would sound odd to them.
Morgan E. Smith
______________________________________________________________________
Smithme@hiramb.hiram.edu "I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV."

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