Microtones at Indiana University

This is a report of my recent 5-day visit to Bloomington, Indiana's school of
music. In addition to a few rehearsals for John Eaton's new polymicrotonal
work "Vespers," I coached the professional Aguava chorale in Henk Badings'
31-tET "Contrasten."

I gave a microtonally-tinged presentation on the Ives "Universe Symphony" for
the President of the American Musicological Society's 20th Century Music
class. Also, I had conferences with P.Q. Phun (Viet-Nam) and Sven-David
Sandstrom (Sweden) who plan to use AFMM performances for their classes. Both
are microtonal composers for many years (though a bit stuck on quartertones,
admittedly to all).

Additionally, I gave presentations on early music tunings and temperaments to
the top flight vocalists, and later to the doctoral choral composers. At one
time, I was asked by the chair of the department to list the cents values for
Ab Major in Werckmeister III so to teach it vocally, without the use of a
harpsichord (or machine). It went rather well. Students had individual
Werckmeister problems, one of which I need further study (involving Leipzig's
chor and kammer pitch relationships in the "St. Matthew's Passion").

Did I mention they have a new organ which plays in both Werckmeister III and
meantone? They are already planning the big Bach work.

In 5 days there were 3 parties of mixed personages. And they have a great
sushi restaurant outside their fantastic library. The head librarian kindly
took out rare books in his own name for me to study and duplicate.
Musicologist George Buelow (author of the "Werckmeister" essay in the Grove
Dictionary), and composer Cary Boyce (performing in NYC on 3/22/03), all
shared Chinese food. The 73-year old musicologist jogged his memory for how
he came to his conclusions, where he had traveled in Germany, and what kind
of receptions he received. (He was ignored..."too ahead of its time," he
said.)

Most successful recordings: Ives "Unanswered Question" in extended
Pythagorean, Buxtehude in Werckmeister III, Dowland in Dowland's Irregular
(performed by Wim Hoogewerf), and my piece Dune for bassoon.

Great discussions (George Martin was a bassoonist (re Beatles) and
definitions of folk music....arghh!?!) were discussed.

best, Johnny Reinhard

> I gave a microtonally-tinged presentation on the Ives "Universe
Symphony" for
> the President of the American Musicological Society's 20th Century
Music
> class. Also, I had conferences with P.Q. Phun (Viet-Nam) and
Sven-David
> Sandstrom (Sweden) who plan to use AFMM performances for their
classes. Both
> are microtonal composers for many years (though a bit stuck on
quartertones,
> admittedly to all).

Just a straight question here: on what basis do you consider Sven
David Sandström a microtonal composer? /Ö