gordon@cae780.UUCP (Brian Gordon) (03/17/84)
[Living sacrifice to assuage the gods of first lines . . .]
I am surprised at the number of people who seem to be unaware of the
significance and common use of the pure (vs tempered scale). I am most
familiar with it in the context of barbershop harmony - one of the few
American artforms.
The characteristic of barbershop harmony is having four people sing chords
with more than four notes (i.e. five, six, or even seven!). The characteristic
chords (and their inversion and placement) of barbershop allow the various
overtones to overlap and become strong enough to be heard as a new note --
with its own overtone series, allowing another note, etc. The "tempered"
scale is useless in that context; the true scale is needed.
Although originally done strictly by ear, there is now quite a body of
technical literature available on it -- although ear is still quite important,
of course.
I will be glad to provide pointers to the literature for anyone who is
interested.
FROM: Brian G. Gordon, CAE Systems
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From the world of the middle of four-part harmony.