New lurker

Hello Tuning List,

I've lurked on this list for a week or so now but I thought I may as well introduce myself. My name is Magnus Jonsson, 24 years old. I study
computer science at University of Delaware. I play the piano although I'm
getting bored with it. I'm now learning Erhu (Chinese two-string violin).
Tuning-wise, my primary interest lies in just intonation and especially the practical side of it. So far I've mostly found it practical to work with JI using a computer. I've made my own VSTi instruments which I use for exploring just intonation. You can hear some of my "etudes" here, in which I explore various just intonation scales:

http://magnus.smartelectronix.com/examples/just-intonation/

(Yes, they all end abruptly)

Here are some personal findings I've made about just intonation:

- The harmonic series is more pleasant than the subharmonic series in polyphonic music and perhaps even in monophonic.

- Lack of pitch drift can give ear fatigue. But excessive pitch
drift is not pleasant either.

- Using a drone encourages more creative/touching melody. Harmony tends to constrict the melody. I suspect there's a trade-off between melody and harmony. Does anyone have similar or contradicting experience?

- I look with great suspicion on octave equivalence. Two examples (you
will perhaps need a bright timbre):
1:5 vs 5/4:4.
2:21 vs 16:21.

That's enough for now I think.

- Magnus Jonsson

Magnus!

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Magnus Jonsson <magnus@s...> wrote:
> I've lurked on this list for a week or so now but I thought I may as
well
> introduce myself. My name is Magnus Jonsson, 24 years old.

Man, I never thought I'd see the likes of you around a place like
this! I've been using Ambience and NyquistEQ for a while now! I look
forward to your endeavors in JI, and would love to see what you've
done, VST-wise, in that area.

I started an offshoot of this list about 4 years ago called Making
Microtonal Music:

/makemicromusic/

... the point of which was to have a place where people might discuss
some of the more pragmatic, as opposed to the more theoretic, aspects
of creating their own microtonal music. But wherever you post, I'll
certainly be reading with interest, and I'll check out your
explorations as well.

Cheers,
Jon

Wow, I never thought I'd get a welcome like this :)

On Mon, 12 Sep 2005, Jon Szanto wrote:

> Magnus!

> Man, I never thought I'd see the likes of you around a place like
> this! I've been using Ambience and NyquistEQ for a while now! I look
> forward to your endeavors in JI, and would love to see what you've
> done, VST-wise, in that area.

You could check out MjHarmonicPingOnly which is available on my
site. It's a simple decaying sine wave synth tuned to the harmonic
series, with some mild distortion at the output end to emphasize
the just intonation and give more interesting sound.

I'm also working on a plucked string synth, but it is in constant
flux and not ready for public release. I'd be happy to share it with
you though if you send a private email.

> I started an offshoot of this list about 4 years ago called Making
> Microtonal Music:
>
> /makemicromusic/

Oh, excellent initiative! I'm joining.

> But wherever you post, I'll certainly be reading with interest, and I'll > check out your explorations as well.

I appreciate it! Thanks.

- Magnus

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Magnus Jonsson <magnus@s...> wrote:
> Wow, I never thought I'd get a welcome like this :)

Deserved.

> You could check out MjHarmonicPingOnly...

Dl'd, just awaiting install after dinner. :)

> I'm also working on a plucked string synth, but it is in constant
> flux and not ready for public release. I'd be happy to share it with
> you though if you send a private email.

Yep, I'll do that. In fact, better: I'm going to do a custom order
from you!

> Oh, excellent initiative! I'm joining.

Cool. It's being moderated now by Prent Rodgers, who's done great
things with JI and the diamond. He has a microtonal podcast, and has
recently posted - look through the recent messages for that info.

Soon,
Jon

> You could check out MjHarmonicPingOnly which is available on my
> site. It's a simple decaying sine wave synth tuned to the harmonic
> series, with some mild distortion at the output end to emphasize
> the just intonation and give more interesting sound.

Hi Magnus!

I've played around with MjHarmonicPingOnly a bit one day!
Great to see you here!!

-Carl

> You can hear some of my "etudes" here, in
> which I explore various just intonation scales:
>
> http://magnus.smartelectronix.com/examples/just-intonation/

Hey, nifty! I especially liked 5-limit ballad, Just beat,
and Just Diamond 1 3 5 9 15.

Have you heard Aaron Johnson's stuff? You might like it...

http://www.akjmusic.com/

-Carl