Cents Sensibility

After having my computer saved from hidden viruses, I thought I'd tell of
some comma fun I just had. I can now sing straight comma scales. Did it for
Joseph but he says he can't hear that finely.

Then I demonstrated commas on an alto recorder (for which I posted fingerings
last year) and then I sang what I played. It was easy to check because I
first outlined the schisma by isolating the distinction between the equal
tempered fifth and the perfect fifth. Composer Alyssa Ryvers was visiting
and she exclaimed, "the cent is big!"

Finally, I have been recording improvisations for composer Patrick Grant. He
tuned up a Kurtzweil synthesizer to single cent increments. I sang along.
Then I asked him to sing a long with me a cappella. After resisting a bit
(because it was uninteresting to him), he joined in and we easily began an
ascent in single cents.

I do not think, with a bit of training, musicians with good pitch distinction
could fail to appreciate single cents.

best, Johnny Reinhard