Comments on Manuel's mode list

Re Manuel's list of Modes:

I'm puzzled how Javanese pathet names became attached to Thai
modes, but I suspect it is because there is a persistent bit of
misinformation that Pelog is 7-tone equal temperament. It is not;
it is a 7 tone unequal scale that varies from gamelan to gamelan.
One might map various pelogs onto 9-tone ET or even 23, but is
would be a very non-Indonesian thing to do.
Anyway, there are 15 possible 5 tone modes in 7-tet:
1a. 2 1 2 1 1 1b. 2 2 1 1 1 1c. 3 1 1 1 1
2a. 1 2 1 1 2 2b. 2 1 1 1 2 2c. 1 3 1 1 1
3a. 2 1 1 2 1 3b. 1 1 1 2 2 3c. 1 1 3 1 1
4a. 1 1 2 1 2 4b. 1 1 2 2 1 4c. 1 1 1 3 1
5a. 1 2 1 2 1 5b. 1 2 2 1 1 5c. 1 1 1 1 3

Lou Harrison has played in 1a, 2a and 4a. The "Thai" modes correspond
to numbers 4a, 2a and 2b. I suspect that the a modes are the most
common and I would think the c modes would be hard to use.

I had forgotten that the Greek chromatic is found in South India
as well as the enharmonic without the divided semitone. There is a
discussion of tuning currently on the rec.music.indian.classical Usenet
newsgroup and the influence of Greek theory has been mentioned, though
not yet discussed. I will post anything especially interesting to Tuning.

--John


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