Re: The rationalist

I suppose it is useful to know the science of the art, but
it is also useful to know the art of the science. Feynman
was one of those who, though he may not have said so
himself, came at science with an artist's temperament. His
way of thinking, and of attacking problems was seen by other
scientists as magical and non-rational. He once said <light
paraphrase> "If mathematics had never been invented, it
would have set physics back... maybe a week." </light
paraphrase> Yet he pooh-poohed the artist's approach to art
and the world.
In my view, there is much to be gained by approaching music
as you do sex. It is sometimes better not to think at all
and just do it. From my own personal experience, I play and
write better music when I do not have a scaffolding of
theory or other distractions around it. Of course, adequate
preparation is a necessity. No amount of raw emotion is
going to overcome the inability to actually play an
instrument or put sounds together.
Although I am perfectly capable of doing and understanding
music theory, I do not. It just does not interest me much. I
prefer playing, as do many others on the list. It makes us
neither more or less members of the microtonal community.
The ability to think in theoretical terms is useful for
gaining a fuller understanding of music, but it is not at
all necessary for the production of good music. What is
important is that the music that is in a person comes out so
that it can be experienced outside the mind of the composer.
In my opinion, that is the great good this community is
working. We are making microtonal music a part of the
landscape, showing that the old strictures are broken, that
there are means, motive and opportunity to produce the music
in our minds without the bondage of the old 12 tone
system.

--
John Starrett
"We have nothing to fear but the scary stuff."
http://www-math.cudenver.edu/~jstarret/microtone.html

> In my view, there is much to be gained by approaching music
> as you do sex. It is sometimes better not to think at all
> and just do it. From my own personal experience, I play and
> write better music when I do not have a scaffolding of
> theory or other distractions around it.

But John is this because you shift from "non-thinking"
into a learned language ...tuning.. that guides your freedom?

> preparation is a necessity. No amount of raw emotion is
> going to overcome the inability to actually play an
> instrument or put sounds together.
> Although I am perfectly capable of doing and understanding
> music theory, I do not. It just does not interest me much. I
> prefer playing, as do many others on the list. It makes us
> neither more or less members of the microtonal community.
> The ability to think in theoretical terms is useful for
> gaining a fuller understanding of music, but it is not at
> all necessary for the production of good music. What is
> important is that the music that is in a person comes out so
> that it can be experienced outside the mind of the composer.
> In my opinion, that is the great good this community is
> working. We are making microtonal music a part of the
> landscape, showing that the old strictures are broken, that
> there are means, motive and opportunity to produce the music
> in our minds without the bondage of the old 12 tone
> system.

Yes but while not agreeing with the constrictive measures being used to
create
such a language, one may find it easier when it is used to have dialogues
with others of the same
community on some common ground....
deciding And implementing such a common ground, a way to show others such a
freedom, seems to be a difficult measure.

because while some may see the old twelve tone system as bondage another
might be implementing a completely different value system for
that same 12 tone system without the need to be "freed" to the use of more
and more tones.

I just feel queasy when others want to decide proper and adequate terms when
describing music.
I think guising it as a FAQ is a cute idea but for it to truly be a communal
effort i think that ALL members should answer ALL questions
and then Vote on appropriate terms, otherwise regardless of tenure, age or
experience there shall be imbalance.

And that is my rationale--balance between theory and music
terms are good to discuss, teach and revise.
Music frequently dispenses the need for terms.

my 2 hertz

pagano

--- In tuning@y..., "shreeswifty" <ppagano@b...> wrote:

> I think guising it as a FAQ is a cute idea but for it to truly be a
communal
> effort i think that ALL members should answer ALL questions
> and then Vote on appropriate terms, otherwise regardless of tenure,
age or
> experience there shall be imbalance.

Well of course all are welcome and encouraged to do so but right now
there is no FAQ. There is no folder in the Files section of this
group, there are no e-mails in my inbox, nothing. Unless we have a
way of doing what you suggest, there will be no FAQ.