On 4/11/06, Martin Peach martinrp@vax2.concordia.ca wrote:
Chuckk Hubbard wrote:
... I believe that, with computers, the harmonic possibilities opened up by other tunings could dwarf those of 12-tET. But obviously not with keyboards.
See Harry Partch's Chromelodeon here: http://www.corporeal.com/instbro/inst12.ht
Martin
Not a big fan of Partch. First, he devises an intricate, deep tuning system dependent on natural harmonics. Then he creates a giant orchestra of percussion and plucked strings to realize it! Instruments with lots of inharmonic partials as part of their characteristic sounds. Of course, I owe him big time. He endured lots of misery for his theories, and he really knew his stuff. The Chromelodeon is different, but I still think it sounds hideous compared to the human voice or Partch's viola. Partch also wasn't creating so much a harmonic structure as melodic music.
The composer whose samples I linked to in another reply, Toby Twining, was a student of Ben Johnston, who was actually a student of Partch. I might myself have some lessons with Toby next semester! I almost did before, but it didn't pan out.
-Chuckk
-- "It is not when truth is dirty, but when it is shallow, that the lover of knowledge is reluctant to step into its waters." -Friedrich Nietzsche, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"