re: eletric Harry

Daniel Wolf wrote...
>In my last posting, I indicated some of the musical problems involved
>in finding a synthesized surrogate for a Chromelodeon but thus far no
>one has suggested any ways to overcome these.

You're right that many stock MIDI controllers (like the DX-7, but the
64+ note poly of most late-model boards should be enough) and wavetable
patches aren't up to the Chromelodeon -- they're not up to most
instruments! But unlike many instruments, there's nothing particularly
hard to synthesize in the Chromelodeon. It may be that nobody's ever
taken the time...

David Beardsley...
>Maybe a job for physical modeling? - it's worth a try.

The timbre of the instrument succumbs quite readily to additive. To
satisfy Wolf, and perhaps simulate varying air pressure, it's a matter
of mapping some MIDI control vectors to some envelope and filter stuff,
and having enough polyphony for the job.

As to the general question of the substitution, we may ask which, if not
both, would be objectionable to Partch: 1. the substitution of a stock
synth for economic reasons, and 2. substituion of a custom synth setup
for whatever reason. Most learned collegues, I humbly suggest that the
person who debates such questions has mis-understood Partch on a very
fundamental level. If Harry's work lives only as a part of a concert
cycle, it's a great loss. Partch's work makes for us a much greater
challenge -- one we may not choose to accept, one we may not even hear.
There's no shame either way. Partch asks nothing of us, but he does
challenge us. And if we claim to accept the challenge, then it means
making art from our souls -- "just like early man" -- and making life
an art in the same spirit. It's rather revolutionary, really. It means
new work. All the time. And if somebody performs Partch with a DX-7, let
somebody else perform it with a Chromelodeon. If somebody transcribes
Partch for string quartet, let somebody else transcribe a string quartet
for Partch ensemble (but don't attend either of those concerts!)

"The world is round." - Gertrude Stein
"The world is wrong." - Harry Partch

-Carl

>MIDI control vectors??? Are you talking about what are commonly
>called continuous controllers?

Sorry, I do get carried away! Yes, that's basically what I meant.

-Carl