Beginner's references

I apologize if this is in a FAQ somewhere, but I'm very new the tuning
field (as far as JI/ratio-based; I've utilized ETs of various
configurations in a number of computer music fragments as well as one full
composition--I found it easier to "wrap my head around" the math involved).
My question is this, I've recently picked up Partch's _Genesis_ but am
finding that my recollection of how to deal with ratios is woefully
inadequate, are there any books dealing with tuning systems (in particular
ratio-based, instead of ET) that also give a "refresher" of the requisite
math involved? Also, are there books that you would recommend reading
before diving into Partch's?

A little personal background follows:

Nearly four years ago, I had my first exposure to Just Intonation when I
attended the SCI National conference held at the University of Iowa. Ben
Johnston was the guest composer and his _Sleep and Waking_ (for american
gamelan) was performed on one of the concerts. Johnston also gave a very
interesting master class on the american gamelan with its (co?)creator Ron
George. Tuning was discussed only very briefly and only with regard to
that composition. He did use the Partch terms U-tonality and O-tonality,
whose meanings I surmised as Undertone-derived and Overtone-derived
(through my reading of Hindemith's _Craft of Music Composition_, in which
he mentions the theoretical existence of an "undertone series"). While I
haven't read enough of _Genesis_ yet, I'm sure that they were very
inaccurate definitions.
Later, as a graduate student in composition at the University of Iowa, I
did research on Johnston, his music, and his theories for a composition
seminar--my head was spinning from the theory, and spinning even faster
(maybe at a 9/7 rate) at the music. At this point I began my own
experiments with different tuning systems in the electronic studios,
utilizing a Kyma system mostly for building various ETs and imposing
pre-built tunings like Werkmeister3 on MIDI files of Bach's WTC to see the
effects of the tuning on the modulatory sections--in particular to
highlight the less-stable sound of the dominant in tunings other than
12tET.
I have created only one composition that utilizes a tuning other than
12tET. It is a stochastic piece realized with a combination of Cmask,
Csound, and Cool Edit Pro, where a varying vertical distance is divided
into 13tET (the space could be 100-1000Hz, or 580-900Hz, etc.). The sound
source is a simple sine-wave. A number of "panels" and "panelettes" were
generated in Csound and then chorussed and reverberated in Cool Edit Pro,
where they were also mixed down to the final piece. The effect is that of
Ligeti's _Volumina_, but for a fairly mellow, spacey,
conceived-of-yet-not-built organ.

Whew! If you made it this far, I appreciate your interest in my background
and I look forward to being able to contribute to this list after I get a
better grasp on the theory.

Cheers,

Jon Southwood
noj@cedar-rapids.net

Jon Southwood wrote:

> From: "Jon Southwood" <noj@cedar-rapids.net>
>
>
> Also, are there books that you would recommend reading
> before diving into Partch's?

David Doty's Just Intonation Primer.

> (maybe at a 9/7 rate) at the music. At this point I began my own
> experiments with different tuning systems in the electronic studios,
> utilizing a Kyma system

Lucky you!

--
* D a v i d B e a r d s l e y
* xouoxno@virtulink.com
*
* J u x t a p o s i t i o n E z i n e
* M E L A v i r t u a l d r e a m house monitor
*
* http://www.virtulink.com/immp/lookhere.htm