Digest Number 419

Message text written by INTERNET:tuning@onelist.com
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I have one small (micro) comment to add to the mix...

Perhaps we can have a truce or compromise in the frank realization that the
technical misnomer "microtonality" is currently applied by the "musician on
the street" to describe ANYTHING that is not 12-tET. This is simply a
verifiable (and quantifiable) observation...

It doesn't take a PhD in lingusitics to appreciate that language (as does
music!) evolves from usage.

Therefore, I would suggest that if this is of such an issue to the
alternate tuning cognocenti, that knowledgeable individuals simply start
using the words correctly -- microtones, when they apply, and "macrotones"
when they apply... (or whatever one feel is appropriate and descriptive).
Naturally, the whole field could be called "alternate tunings."

Therefore, instead of the "American Festival of Microtonal Music," we would
have the "American Association of Alternate Tunings," or AAAT.

Nice little phrases could result... "Where it's AT is AAAT!" (perhaps
even things more sophisticated).

(This title also works very well for the phone book!)

Unfortunately, for such organizations as the AFMM, it is far too late to
changes things... This pertains to most usage questions. In fact, like
most general words, once people are accustomed to them and know what they
mean, do they really care anymore what they mean technically?? Probably
not...