Instruments

> All-
> One of the impedimemts to the growth of microtonal music is the
> lack of microtonal instruments. In the spirit of a new year, it would be
> nice to hear from all of you what microtonal instruments you own and
> play, and how you obtained/modified these instruments.

---------I've got two fixed pitch instruments-----------

1) 6 foot grand piano (will soon be tuned Justly, but is now in 12)

2) Cosmolyra (built from scratch for about $100 under the guidance of Denny
Genovese at the Southeast Just Intonation Center)...
a) Two-sided electric slide guitar after Ivor's Hobnailed Newell Post
b) May be stood on end, on the floor, and played on either side
c) May be put on side, on a table, and flipped to get at either side
d) 33" of pine 2 x 6 (body) plus 1.5" (stands) is 34.5" total length
e) String length 26", Harmonic 4 is the 12-tone F# below A=110
f) 13 strings on side one, tuned to harmonics 4-16
g) 15 strings on side two, tuned in three groups...
6 in a otonal hexad
6 in a utonal hexad
3 in unison on harmonic 16 (chorus effect for melody)

h) Body is marked on each side with 2 octaves of each of the following...
otonal: 1/1 9/8 5/4 11/8 3/2 13/8 7/4 15/8 2/1
utonal: 1/1 12/11 6/5 4/3 3/2 12/7 2/1

i) Use of piano tuning pins in red oak and custom steel tail (with holes to
catch gromets on strings) allows high degree of tuning accuracy and stability.

I built the Cosmolyra mainly for ear-training purposes. I have found that
it can also be used with good effect as a solo instrument, as a great thing
to sing along with, and even as a good instrument for ensemble work (a
recent jam with 12-tone electric guitar shows promise). I may get around to
publishing full specs and even music for it (maybe in 1/1)...

---------I have five free pitch instruments------------

1) 1976 Bach Stradivarius Bb trumpet w/72 bell in silver
2) 1995 Yamaha Professional Heavy Wall Bb trumpet in silver
3) My voice
4) My whistling
5) Mollenhauer soprano recorder (wood)

Carl


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From: gbreed@cix.compulink.co.uk (Graham Breed)
Subject: instruments
PostedDate: 04-01-98 19:17:18
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