Re: serialism & JI (was: Masters Degree)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Southwood <noj@cedar-rapids.net>
To: tuning@onelist.com <tuning@onelist.com>
Date: Saturday, May 08, 1999 8:43 AM
Subject: Re: [tuning] Masters Degree (was:Wendy Carlos on meantone)

> In order for this message to not be completely off-topic I have a
>question that relates serialism to Just Intonation. Not too long ago, I
>heard a recording of Johnston's String Quartet No. 2, which as you may
>or may not know is a serialized piece with a scale of 43(?) tones. More
>accurately, the vertical intervals are serialized. Are there any good
>references out there that deal with this sort of application of serial
>techniques to the pitches/intervals of a Just Intonation tuned system?
>
>

I found an interview with Johnston here:

http://nj5.injersey.com/~finj/paris/inter/johnston.html

He talks about his apprenticeship with Partch and I think it's very
enlightening regarding his attitude towards serialism.

Kees van Prooijen wrote:

> > In order for this message to not be completely off-topic I have a
> >question that relates serialism to Just Intonation. Not too long ago, I
> >heard a recording of Johnston's String Quartet No. 2, which as you may
> >or may not know is a serialized piece with a scale of 43(?) tones. More
> >accurately, the vertical intervals are serialized. Are there any good
> >references out there that deal with this sort of application of serial
> >techniques to the pitches/intervals of a Just Intonation tuned system?
> >
> >
>
> I found an interview with Johnston here:
>
> http://nj5.injersey.com/~finj/paris/inter/johnston.html
>
> He talks about his apprenticeship with Partch and I think it's very
> enlightening regarding his attitude towards serialism.

Cool article even though I didn't read it very carefully, I'llhave to get
together. File it!

I think Johnson's an important composer, particularly
from a pitch perspective. But I like the part where he says he stopped
writting his no commission string quartet to arrange a Partch piece
for Kronos...

....when money calls you drop everything to make a buck
even if means completely mis-representing a major dead composer
you had a personal connection with. In fact, when ever one
reads about Johnston, one sees a reference to Partch.

But hey! It's just business. Johnston's made himself a footnote
to Partch when he should have been a contender. Through
the grape vine, I've heard that Kronos isn't recording
Johnstons quartets because of the difficulty perfrming them.

So he can't make any money off his own music - and he
totally deserves it - so he has to mis-represent Partch.

A damm shame.

(Yikes, this sounds like an old Brian McLarren post!)

--
* 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

David Beardsley wrote:

>
> I think Johnson's an important composer, particularly
> from a pitch perspective. But I like the part where he says he stopped
> writting his no commission string quartet to arrange a Partch piece
> for Kronos...
>
> ....when money calls you drop everything to make a buck
> even if means completely mis-representing a major dead composer
> you had a personal connection with. In fact, when ever one
> reads about Johnston, one sees a reference to Partch.

Webern said some where that they kill you in the east and in the west they
make you an economic sacrifice. I guess they had to shoot him to prove him
wrong!

It is interesting that none of Harry's associates followed him in his stance
but most seem to slide back toward that which he liberated himself from (maybe
they forced him away).

> (Yikes, this sounds like an old Brian McLarren post!)

I guess some of mine must be in that park too then! yikes-yikes
-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
www.anaphoria.com