Just Intonation

vijayan · Joined: Jun 01, 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Philadelphia.PA

Hi Everyone,

This is a piece in a justly tuned scale. It actually uses notes of a Raga from southern India. I am still working on structuring my music...one of these days I'll learn Smile

But I tried to put in different movements in this composition like Mosc adviced. It's still a beginner composition (I have no musical training Smile

Hope you like Smile

Here goes : Kanakambari

Peace !
Swamy

mosc · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:19 am Post subject:

Interesting, Swamy. I can really hear that just intonation. We get so used to equal temperment that it is a bit of a jolt to hear "alternative" tunings. Too few of us use them. The piece does have structure over time. Glad to see you working on that aspect of the music. I like the ending of the piece where the notes got mellower and moved up to a higher register.

You are more familiar with the Indian musical traditions more than I, but I like how they have a neat trio concept. A percussion instrument, a drone or harmony instrument, and a solo instrument. I can hear some harmony instrumentation, especially in the second half.

Keep up the good work my friend. Thanks for sharing this. You've got me thinking of tunings now. Smile

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:15 am Post subject:

Keep it up!

BTW: just intonation... reminds me of this sketch I heard on the radio a few years back. I turned on the radio and heard this very serious discussion about "democratic intonation". I guess I listened to it for a minute or so before I realised these people were kidding and not completely lost in mushrooms. Great fun.

seraph · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:27 am Post subject:

your Allmighty, but friendly, Links Editor in His infinite wisdom reminds you of a link previously appeared on this website that's very appropriate here:
http://users.rcn.com/dante.interport/hartheory2.html
enjoy Exclamation

mosc · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:47 am Post subject:

Very interesting about Primes, Almighty Links Editor. The new String Theory of everything places a lot of emphasis on primes for the same reasons as expressed in this article.

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 9:03 am Post subject:

http://www.jonroseweb.com/f_projects_am_bach.html

The Long Sufferings
of Anna Magdalena Bach

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

canonic variation on cembalo in unjust intonation

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 9:14 am Post subject:

A Kind Word or Two About
ALEXANDER JOHN ELLIS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENNIAL
1885-1985 OF THE SECOND ENGLISH EDITION OF HIS
TRANSLATION OF AND APPENDIX TO HELMHOLTZ'S SENSATIONS OF TONE

http://sonic-arts.org/darreg/dar23.htm

vijayan · Joined: Jun 01, 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Philadelphia.PA

(I have the Helmholtz book, but it's so hard to read ....too much technicalities and the english is kinda wierd) Confused

I was reading the article The Almighty Links Editors refered to here. Its pretty cool ! It's like every prime interval is an altogether new sensation, the other intervals being somehow related to each other and provide somekind of body/mass/girth to the music. Here's a link to a guy who's worked on Indian music from a just intonation point of view. Notice he again attributes emotions to the prime intervals !

http://www.alaindanielou.org/anglais/semantic/semantic.htm

I wonder how much of world music is harmony based. Indian music does not use harmony at all ! Theres no chords in Indian music. Everything is based on scales... and particular patterns of notes/intervals on the scale which bring out the emotional content of the scale. This is the Raga. Also traditional Indian music is considered to be a very personal affair...a way for a fellow to reach nirvana. Theres absolutely no concept of an orchestra in traditional Indian music. Like Mosc said, its percussion, soloist and the drone (mostly to help the soloist locate his base frequency during the course of a performance. The drone is simply the base frequency of the soloist and the fifth)

Anybody know how harmony based music and melody based music is perceived ? I can easily feel there is a difference, but I can't seem to place it. Umm... to put it wierdly, harmony based music seems to resonate all over my head, but melody based music seems concentrated. Question

Swamy

mosc · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 1:31 pm Post subject:

That is a facinating web site. The "excerpt" is a real mind bender. At first it seems just out-of-tune, but then after listening a few time it doesn't sound that way. I'm thrilled whenever I see someone so passionate about something unusual in music that they do something like this. Quite a project. Thanks, Swamy. I'm sure the ALE (Allmighty Links Editor) will dig this too. Smile

seraph · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject:

yes Howard
ALE is so impressed that He's going to add a link to this site in our revered Link Page Exclamation

vijayan, great job Very Happy

7/4 · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: Just Intonation

7/4 · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:14 pm Post subject:

vijayan · Joined: Jun 01, 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Philadelphia.PA

Thanks very much for the suggestions 7/4. I just got the Doty book from our library ! I will be doing most of my stuff in JI from now on, so I'll keep in touch Smile

Thanks again !

Swamy

7/4 · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:40 am Post subject:

Cool. That chapter on constructing a 5 limit scale is essential.

7/4 · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 3:48 pm Post subject:

Swamy,

Make it a point to visit this sound and light installation
http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-1250.html in NYC. La Monte Young is not only an important American composer working with Just Intonation, but also has also studied, sung and taught Hindustani Classical Raga for many years.