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.

Add a flute

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The mix deepens.

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.

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.

Sing in 53

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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.

Ballon Drum Song #26

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Added an opening half measure and more second flute parts.

Ballon Drum Song

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More percussion, some changes to the bass line to add glissandi, and two alto flutes instead of one.

Balloon Drum Naima

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I added a bit of percussion: Balloon Drum, Guiro, Shaker.

Trumpet Music for Flute, Harp, and Finger Piano but no Trumpet. Now why is that?

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This time I've added a bit of intentional "munchkinization" to some of the samples. That is, I intentionally use a sample of a note two or three notes lower than normally chosen, which results in a sharper timbre. The choice is randomized. The effect is kind of like playing closer or farther from the bridge on a string instrument. The effect is applied to the finger piano and harp chords and arpeggios.

The first few measures are all here

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Now that the first few measures have been complete, I need to go back and liven things up a bit. There's too much repetition here.

Trumpet Music for Flute, Harp, and Finger Piano but no Trumpet. Now why is that?

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just more measures.

more Niama

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Shifted down to the key of G minor with a C in the bass.

More Trumpet Music for Flute, Harp, and Finger Piano

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Just the addition of a vamp and a finger piano chord based on the 7/9/11 with the melody starting on the 13th overtone. Do you think Mr. Coltrane planned it that way?

Trumpet Music for Flute, Harp, and Finger Piano

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Now imagine the right note in the bass, and all the other notes as overtones of that note.

More Naima

As you may know, I am somewhat obsessed with the song Naima by John Coltrane. For those who would like to wander down a jazz alley consisting of nothing but people playing nothing but Naima, as I did tonight on Rhapsody, here's a playlist.


My Rhapsody Playlist

You have to have the service, which is great if you like other people's music and are willing to sit at your computer and listen, neither of which I am. But, you never can tell when you might be at someone's house who pays the $10-15 dollars a month to have unlimited access to music at their computers. I only listen to music while I walk, or if my kids are playing. That's why I prefer podcasts. But that's just me. This experiment with 33 versions of Naima has been terrific. I highly recommend it if you can spend the time. I only listened to the first 24 bars or so of each. Can you imagine what Barry White could have done with this song if had set his mind to it? Breathless...

Naima #17

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Extended. There is some tuning problems at the end. The last two chords are a 7/4 major to an 8/5 major. I'm going to have to look into that some time...

Trumpet Song #16 - Naima

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Today I corrected the tuning of the bass flute, which was as much as 50 cents sharp on some low notes. I still need more fine tuning. It is hard to tune a sample with such deep vibrato. On the plane from Denver to Omaha I was able to get close. More accuracy will require some quiet time.

Trumpet Song #15 - Naima

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Just a small change of instrumentation from alto flute to bass flute, and an adjustment from 24+24+24+24+8 to 48+32+48 in the bass finger piano.

Trumpet Song #14 - Naima

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Naima, the Coltrane song, in 6-4-6 rhythm and some microtonal scales.

Trumpet Song #13

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I wonder what happens when I give up on those University of Iowa brass samples and switch the the tried and true finger piano, alto flute, and harp samples? I guess I'm just not but out to make slow music. The faster it goes, the more I like the sound.