Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Monday, February 26, 2007

Another in a series

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This is a work in progress...


Only a few minutes to work today. Insert the bridge into the theme.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

A bridge from a circle of fifths

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Make a bridge from a circle of fifths. How simple. Since the introduction is in C major, go up a 5:4 (17 steps in 53) to E minor, then down a 3:2 (31 steps) to A, down a 3:2 to D, down a 3:2 to G, then up a 77:76 (one step) to G+, then down a 3:2 (31 steps) back to C major. 77:76 is the ratio of a single step in 53 tone equal temperament (or Equal Divisions of the Octave, EDO). If the 3:2 were really a 3:2 instead of 31 steps of 53 EDO, and if the 5:4 were really a 5:4 instead of 17 steps of the 53 EDO, then the comma would be 81:80, instead of 77:76. But it's close enough for audio work.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Add another finger piano

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I added a finger piano playing arpeggio based on descending triads. 6:5:4 and 11:9:7 in the key of C.

The percussion is more of that sitka spruce board with the contact microphone and an assortment of combs, rocks, screws, and other devices glued to the surface. One makes a kind of "cookie" sound from a metal comb with different length prongs.

Monday, February 19, 2007

More of the 53 tone music

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Just a small change to the flute melody. More in the future. As always.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Sing in 53 - EDO

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And today we have a bit more control over the percussion. Still in C major, but I've also put some work into making the modulation easier.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Add a flute

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The mix deepens.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Another in a series - Working towards a piece in 53 Tone Equal Divisions of the Octave - 53-EDO

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Considering the ability to modulate, why not refer to all chords as relative steps:

Here's how major triads in their three inversions can be written. First you see the inversions of the 4:5:6 overtones, then the 9:11:14 overtone triads:

.maj3-u-a135 t+0 t+17 t+14
.maj3-u-a351 o-1t+17 t+14 t+22
.maj3-u-a513 o-1t+31 t+22 t+17
@
.maj3-u-b247 t+9 t+16 t+18 t+19
.maj3-u-b472 o-1t+25 t+18 t+19 t+16
.maj3-u-b724 o-1t+43 t+19 t+16 t+18
@

Then when you want to call a chord, just start it with the key like this:

t0&maj3-u-a3*.

This translates to Csound code for three notes at scales steps 17, 17+14=31, and 31+22 = 53, which translates to 0, the tonic.

More insect life as percussion from the Dry Spring.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Sing the song in 53 - 2

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These are samples from an instrument I made in 1975 or so. It's a piece of 1/4 inch Sitka Spruce, with a contact microphone attached. I've glued assorted noise makers to the surface of the wood. Each is rubbed with rosined fingers, struck, or scraped with small tools. I call it a dry spring.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Sing in 53

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This is a work in progress...


Consider it a requirement that I write at least one piece in 53 tone equal before I turn 54 in March. Equal sure is easier for modulation. This one stays in the Partch tonality diamond, but it could easily just wander out at a moment's notice.