Responses to Bob Valentine

Bob posted:

> Jerry, thanks for responding to my melodic questions, seconds
> puzzle me since all this tuning talk is harmony oriented and most
> music is more concerned with melody and most meldy moves in seconds.

You're welcome, Bob. He continued:
>
> ...then Jerry said...
>>
>> Tonal music, in general, seems universal and probably predates God (at least
>> man's concept of him/her). At the change of the millennium, polyphony was
>> introduced in Western music, however it was still largely vocal,
>
> I'm surprised this wasn't slammed harder than it was, what a well-behaved
> list. Tonal music, as in major/minor, is a minority of the music in the
> world.

Bob, before you start "slamming," you might wonder how I am using the word.
(Read Margo's article.)

> Even modal music based on the ratios adopted by the tonal West (3
> and 5 limit) seems to be ignored or side-stepped in many cultures.

Perhaps true, but irrelevant when you understand my use of the word.

> Paul
> mentioned Arab music and its a great example where some rather
> spicy ratios are preferred to those which were eventually turned into
> tonal music. (Thirds seconds and sixths seems to come from different pockets
> than the ones we use altogether). The Mysterious Voices of the Balkans
> recordings have some too, since harmonizing in seconds is just the way
> they like it. Then there are EDOs which have little to do with temperring
> the same ratios the West has tempered, 5 and 7 come to mind for Africa?
> Thailand?

Again, irrelevant.

So, relax, Bob. Your ire is understandable if the word "tonal" _always meant
what you thought it meant. Here's a wonderful opportunity to expand your
horizons. When you don't "agree" with someone's post, why not ask for a
clarification? Wow! What a concept. Leave "slamming" to the WWF.

Affectionately,

Jerry