Re: [tuning] Re: Johnny Reinhard's "quartertone +/- < 50 cents" notation

You are right about the math, Joe Monzo, but it's not the end of the story.
In order for someone to approach the 1200 divisions of the octave, they must
at least know quartertones. (It's a microtonal rite of passage.)

The quartertone symbols are ahead of the noteheads (which have the numbers
above). Musicians read linearly and see the closer neighborhood of the
quartertone vicinity (and general direction) while reading measures ahead of
playing. (Please, be patient, this is difficult for me to explain.) As a
cent is half the acoustically tiny schisma, the quartertone is half the
traditional semitone diesis. It's a good signpost for the eyes.

On winds, the quartertone fingerings are more radical from the semitones than
most any other microtone (since they bisect the semitones). The advantage to
advance telegraphing before looking at numbers is helpful in playing
accurately and in tempo (based on life experience).

Even strings and brass would benefit from a quartertone symbol. Trumpets
have much leeway (minor third) for each piston combination...and that's
better dealt with by a quartertone signpost, I think.

Johnny Reinhard

Johnny !
My own introduction into microtones was through 31. 24 had and still does have no appeal!

Afmmjr@aol.com wrote:

> You are right about the math, Joe Monzo, but it's not the end of the story.
> In order for someone to approach the 1200 divisions of the octave, they must
> at least know quartertones. (It's a microtonal rite of passage.)

-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria island
www.anaphoria.com