Histoire De Quarter-Tone

> In the virgin microtonal world, a quartertone is as sinister an invader
> into norms as any other microtone. In fact, a quartertone is a gateway
> interval, often leading to other distinctive microtonalalia.

> it's funny, is the quartertone so popular because of the acedemic
> popularity
> of composers like Carillo and Wyschenegradsky, or is it the multiple of
> 12
> factor, or both, or none of the above?

I didn't know these duudes were popular in academia? I don't think even
quarter-tone are "popular" in academia, at least as far as "standard rep"
goes. Not in too many textbooks anyway.

On the other hand, I'd say at least half of the young composers I know do
microtonal things, systematic or not, in much of their work.

the (mostly French) spectral school had an interesting approach (Tristan
Murail, Gerard Grisey, etc.): A quarter-Tone is a "symbol" of a "more
exact" pitch --- the idea being that musical/sonic context will suggest
to the player that they should tune the note up or down a certain number
of cents . . .

For example, they might write a C7 chord with a B-3-1/4-flat, the player
should figure out that that B3/4b is a 7/4 and tune accordingly.

CB