Pure Tuning

Can anyone explain how one's physical body and mind are actually physically
affected by pure tuning? Has anyone measured the effects scientifically
and documented the findings? How would one measure something like this?

Brian Carlson wrote:

> From: "Brian Carlson" <bxcarl3@uswest.com>
>
> Can anyone explain how one's physical body and mind are actually physically
> affected by pure tuning? Has anyone measured the effects scientifically
> and documented the findings? How would one measure something like this?

Maybe you should do this research!
-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
www.anaphoria.com

Brian what would be the purpose of this study? I have learned a lot about
tunings and scales from this list, but have often wondered how such knowledge
leads to the goal (a primitive one) of music, which is to promote syngery.

Anyway, if I were to do this research I would begin by defining a range of human
emotional states, examine traditional and contemporary music to determine
musical attributes (progressions, tunings, etc) that are associated with each
emotional state. This knowledge would enable one to be a better musician. I
think this study must be done on a ehtnic/cultural basis, since one shoe doesn't
fit all.

Interestingly, this information for the most part is second nature in musicians
who receive their musical experience and training in their cultural setting.
They know how to play the music to achieve a synergy between musician and
audience. It's becoming increasing more common to see Blacks, who was raised in
integrated neighborhoods and received their musical training in European
classical music, trying to play gospel music. Their playing is technically
superb but the music lacks that required to inspired the audience. President
Clinton could do better!!

-----Original Message-----
From: tuning@onelist.com at Internet
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 2:18 PM
To: tuning@onelist.com at internet
Subject: [tuning] Pure Tuning

From: "Brian Carlson" <bxcarl3@uswest.com>

Can anyone explain how one's physical body and mind are actually physically
affected by pure tuning? Has anyone measured the effects scientifically
and documented the findings? How would one measure something like this?

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Hello -

I'd like to say that I believe Brian Carlson's question re measurement of
effects of pure tuning on the body and mind is a key question in musical
science
today. If the short and also longer term psychological effects of music on
listeners were appreciably affected by the tuning of the music, this is
something
having considerable social importance for peoples' overall well being, just as
air quality, control of noise levels, etc. have over time become recognized as
mattering a great deal to people's well being.

I have made initial efforts to learn about both quantitative "prefer A/prefer
B"
reactions of people (about 300 high schoolers and music school entrants in the
last
two years) and also patterns of peoples' descriptions in their own words
regarding
how differences in tuning impress them or affect them. I haven't fully
analyzed
this data yet. There are certain trends, and there seem to be surprisingly
great
differences between individuals. Frequently, however, although two
individuals
might differ as to their preferences between an EQT and a mean tone or just
intonation performance of a musical phrase, they will agree on many matters
regarding the different impressions made by the different versions.

Although what people are used to hearing seems to have a big influence on
their
preferences, this is very clearly not the only operative factor.

There are intriguing reports about effects of periods of listening to various
kinds of music prior to taking some kind of test of mental acuity. I believe
that
it is true that there are significant effects, but it is only too easy to take
a few
observations and draw conclusions from them which are not solidly justified,
and
a lot more careful work needs to be done.

I believe some work has been done towards measuring brain electrical
responses to various kinds of music - as is being done in many areas besides
music
as well.

But there's a lot which is still uncertain.

I have seen people remark that piano music in mean tone temperament or just
intonation sounds absolutely beautiful to them - perhaps a third of people
respond
this way, which is quite a high proportion considering the great diversity in
musical tastes which exists.

Dave Hill La Mesa, CA