The Tyrrany of Twelve

Many thanks to those that responded to my comments. Even to those who
disagreed with me.

It was nice to see that we can discuss the overarching problems of gaining
wider acceptance of microtonality, and of the problems of tuning in general,
rather than the usual drear about which blackjack mode or ratio pushes your
buttons.

What we should be doing _IMHO_ is not living in the ghetto and whining and
using DIY instruments (apologies, Harry) and freebie software, no matter how
/good/ it may be.

What we should be discussing is how we can engage ordinary musicians in what
we believe to be a valid means of musical expression.

Some don't like my methods (too many complain of the mathematical origins,
and some complain that it's tonality all over again, and we've had plenty
enough of that) but so far, I've been having successes here and there. For
example, via my partner, a recorder player is now asking how she can obtain
a 19-tone recorder: she belongs to a large amateur community specialising in
music involving recorders (inc Mediaeval instruments). From one, to another,
and another...

But 19 is just another scale amongst many, many possibilities.

Mark

> What we should be doing _IMHO_ is not living in the ghetto and whining and
> using DIY instruments (apologies, Harry) and freebie software, no matter how
> /good/ it may be.

Why? Both DIY instruments and good, free software seem like excellent things.

Mark Gould wrote:

>
>
> What we should be doing _IMHO_ is not living in the ghetto and whining and
> using DIY instruments (apologies, Harry) and freebie software, no matter how
> /good/ it may be.

Why not? Seems like I've wasted a lot of time and effort then. Please let me know where I went
wrong.

Regards
a.m.

Thanks, Mark. I am in complete agreement with you. And Rachel Barnes from
London plays a 19-tone equal tempered tenor recorder. She has a piece by a
talented composer for 2 players and pre-recorded music that she wants to play
on the AFMM concerts next Spring.

I am beginning to wonder if there is a direct inverse proportion between
microtonalists being afraid of live musicians, and conventional 12 listeners
being afraid of microtones.

:) Johnny Reinhard

Hi Alison,

I don't think Mark was trying to piss other Listers off. It's just that it
helps to have a variety of issues and angles moving through the list
concurrently.

And to all, please keep doing what you are doing...but do attend some live
concerts when you can...(hint, hint, Feb. 8th in NY). Or elsewhere.

best, Johnny

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Afmmjr@a... wrote:

> I am beginning to wonder if there is a direct inverse proportion between
> microtonalists being afraid of live musicians, and conventional 12 listeners
> being afraid of microtones.

This microtonalist hasn't even figured out how to do a score yet.

>What we should be doing _IMHO_ is not living in the ghetto and
>whining and using DIY instruments (apologies, Harry) and freebie
>software, no matter how /good/ it may be.

Take off the "no matter how good" bit, and I couldn't agree
more. But every time I post something about developing a
real keyboard, I get at most one person interested.

-C.

Afmmjr@aol.com wrote:

> Hi Alison,
>
> I don't think Mark was trying to piss other Listers off. It's just that it
> helps to have a variety of issues and angles moving through the list
> concurrently.
>
> And to all, please keep doing what you are doing...but do attend some live
> concerts when you can...(hint, hint, Feb. 8th in NY). Or elsewhere.
>
> best, Johnny

Point taken - now can I have two returns (preferably non-smoking) for Edinburgh - NY please, ?
: - )

Peace
a.m.

Mark/Carl,

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "Carl Lumma <clumma@y...>" <clumma@y...> wrote:
> >What we should be doing _IMHO_ is not living in the ghetto and
> >whining and using DIY instruments (apologies, Harry) and freebie
> >software, no matter how /good/ it may be.
>
> Take off the "no matter how good" bit, and I couldn't agree
> more. But every time I post something about developing a
> real keyboard, I get at most one person interested.

Then what you have described is a perfect recipe for virtually no progress whatsoever. Don't do it yourself, don't rely on current tools, hope for something in the future that may or may not appear (most likely due to a near-zero demand), and sit.

And sit. And sit. And sit.

(we pause for this moment to honor the value of the process of thoughtful insight, reflection, and discovery, that can and does take place while sitting...)

Everyone needs to be comfortable with their own path, and Carl has explained his path often enough, and with conviction, that neither I nor anyone else should attempt to convince him otherwise. But others, for reasons just as personally valid, don't want to sit and wait and opine and type and research. They want to do something _now_ with whatever means available, and when push comes to shove they are going to make the most inroads (IMO). If at some point, years from now, we are still in a world dominated by one tuning system, there will be those that waited for something to change, and there will be those that created something different along the way, even if it did not affect the final outcome.

Cherish, conserve, consider, create.

Cheers,
Jon

You know, Alison, you could probably pick a single week that takes in 2
concerts at very reasonable airline prices. And there are plenty of nice New
Yorkers that might be able to help put you up. And then some musicians might
be able to fly to Scotland under similar conditions.

Johnny Reinhard

Afmmjr@aol.com wrote:

> You know, Alison, you could probably pick a single week that takes in 2
> concerts at very reasonable airline prices. And there are plenty of nice New
> Yorkers that might be able to help put you up. And then some musicians might
> be able to fly to Scotland under similar conditions.
>
> Johnny Reinhard

I'm looking at the flights right now, and juggling time schedules. If not this year, certainly
next, maybe even to perform some 22 tet guitar works. And I'd certainly offer hospitality to
musicians coming to Scotland.

Kind Regards
a.m.