Re: Turkish Tunings

I think one should get in touch with Can Akkoc about Turkish music as he is
finding strong deviations from theoretical scales and modal structures in actual
performances on a flexibly tuned instrument (Ney).

--John

--- In tuning@y..., John Chalmers <JHCHALMERS@U...> wrote:
> I think one should get in touch with Can Akkoc about Turkish music
as he is
> finding strong deviations from theoretical scales and modal
structures in actual
> performances on a flexibly tuned instrument (Ney).
>
> --John

given that expressive 'bends' and dynamic inflections *during a single
tone* which are far too subtle for any western music-theory-language
to describe accurately, are the characteristic feature of the refined
melody of the middle east and india, one cannot seriously expect
measurements of this music to yield a precise, small set of cents
values or ratios.

however, one can specify, in approximate terms, the intervals occuring
between the perceived 'centers' of these inflectional gestures. in
this regard, there is no doubt that neutral seconds and neutral thirds
are characteristic of many, if not most, of the maqamat of arabic music.

therein lies the flaw in the 17-tone pythagorean model -- no neutral
seconds or neutral thirds to be found.

somehow, kraig took my previous assertion to this effect and turned it
into an endorsement of 24-equal. i don't see how this leap occured.
maybe because i advocate 22-equal for a very different style of music
. . . ?

--- In tuning@y..., John Chalmers <JHCHALMERS@U...> wrote:
> I think one should get in touch with Can Akkoc about
> Turkish music as he is finding strong deviations from> theoretical
> scales and modal structures in actual
> performances on a flexibly tuned instrument (Ney).
>
> --John

Thanks, I'll try - do you have an email address for him?