No BP schism, please!

Paul Erlich wrote (Tuning List mail on 1/11/01):
(quote) ...the _tempered_ chromatic BP scale, or the Pierce scale, 13 equal
steps per 3:1... (unquote) and (quote) ...the _JI_ "diatonic" and "chromatic"
Bohlen scales... (unquote).

That sounds as if John Pierce and I had split the work between us. That was
not so. But in a way I am happy about Paul's error; it gives me an
opportunity to tell the old story of the making of the scale once more, and
to ornament it with a little bit of gossip.

Well, one part of Paul's opinion is correct. I had been looking for a JI
scale based on the triad 3:5:7 in the framework of 3:1 when I discovered what
I called the "13-step scale" at that time. It occurred one day in spring
1972, in Hamburg, Germany, as the result of a lengthy investigation
concerning consonance with combination tones and harmonics. But there were
only hours or perhaps a day (I don't remember that so exactly anymore; old
age is claiming its toll) between that discovery and finding, that equal
temperament of the scale was such a close fit. Yes, the scale was perceived
as a "chromatic" JI scale first, but it was the near-congruence with the
equal-tempered version that made it exciting for me. Consequently, the first
still sketchy write-up presents (like the following papers) the "13-step
scale" in both a JI and an ET chromatic form and additionally in four 9-step
"diatonic" modes.

The next in line was - no, not John Pierce yet - it was Kees van Prooijen in
The Hague, Holland, who in 1978 independently found that a division of the
third harmonic (3:1) into 13 equal steps provided convincing consonance with
odd harmonics. But Kees was at that time reluctant to share his discovery,
and he camouflaged it cunningly in his paper.

He wouldn't have needed to do that; news of the scale didn't make it to the
USA anyway, obviously. Thus the stage was free for a third discovery of the
scale in 1984, this time by famous John Pierce in Palo Alto, California.
Regrettably, I never got a chance to talk to John about the scale (not that I
didn't try), so I can't tell you how he came across it. But one thing is for
certain: this time the scale caught the attention of a larger circle of
people, and besides investigating it scientifically it is also John's (or Max
Mathew's?) merit to have baptized it Bohlen-Pierce.

There is, though, a "Pierce scale"; it is one of the diatonic modes that John
found especially valuable. And an almost funny bit: all three BP discoverers
are presently living in the Bay Area; John still in Palo Alto, Kees in Mill
Valley, I in Mountain View. It seems to be a place that favors odd harmonics.

By the way: most of this is narrated and documented at the BP site
(http://members.aol.com/bpsite/references.html).

Heinz

--- In tuning@egroups.com, HPBOHLEN@A... wrote:

http://www.egroups.com/message/tuning/17466

>
> Well, one part of Paul's opinion is correct. I had been looking for
a JI scale based on the triad 3:5:7 in the framework of 3:1 when I
discovered what I called the "13-step scale" at that time. It
occurred one day in spring 1972, in Hamburg, Germany, as the result
of a lengthy investigation concerning consonance with combination
tones and harmonics. But there were only hours or perhaps a day (I
don't remember that so exactly anymore; old age is claiming its
toll) between that discovery and finding, that equal temperament of
the scale was such a close fit. Yes, the scale was perceived as a
"chromatic" JI scale first, but it was the near-congruence with
the equal-tempered version that made it exciting for me.
Consequently, the first still sketchy write-up presents (like the
following papers) the "13-step scale" in both a JI and an ET
chromatic form and additionally in four 9-step "diatonic" modes.
>

> There is, though, a "Pierce scale"; it is one of the diatonic modes
that John found especially valuable. And an almost funny bit: all
three BP discoverers are presently living in the Bay Area; John still
in Palo Alto, Kees in Mill Valley, I in Mountain View. It seems to be
a place that favors odd harmonics.
>

It is really wonderful to see that Mr. Heinz Bohlen himself is
posting to this list! The Bohlen-Pierce scale is such an intriguing
one! Can I write another exclamation mark to this list! I think so!

_______ ____ _____
Joseph Pehrson