Here's a project I will be doing during the next few months:
Temperament and the modern ear.
i) Produce some sound files of simultaneously sounded intervals in
different temperaments, or just scanning a range from say just-20c to
Pythagorean+20c.
Mainly major thirds on a few different tonics. Use some different
synthetic instruments, espec harpsichord, piano, guitar or lute, organ
flute pipes, sine waves. Perhaps also minor thirds or major sixths, but
only one one timbre.
ii) Produce some sound files using the above timbres and temperaments,
especially say just, equal and one of the well temperaments.
iii) collar friend-musicians. Ask them to 'tune' ie choose the best
thirds (etc) from files (i). This is the dilemma right now.
iv) ditto with the contextual sound files in (iii)
#3 is the hardest part right now. I thought about doing an online "survey" type using flash or something. However I haven't got a clue of where to start.
What do you guys think, or would you like to help me out with the program?
Cheers,
Jaan
| Jaan wrote: |
Here's a project I will be doing during the next few months:
Temperament and the modern ear.
i) Produce some sound files of simultaneously sounded intervals in
different temperaments, or just scanning a range from say just-20c to
Pythagorean+20c.
Mainly major thirds on a few different tonics. Use some different
synthetic instruments, espec harpsichord, piano, guitar or lute, organ
flute pipes, sine waves. Perhaps also minor thirds or major sixths, but
only one one timbre.
ii) Produce some sound files using the above timbres and temperaments,
especially say just, equal and one of the well temperaments.
iii) collar friend-musicians. Ask them to 'tune' ie choose the best
thirds (etc) from files (i). This is the dilemma right now.
iv) ditto with the contextual sound files in (iii)
#3 is the hardest part right now. I thought about doing an online "survey" type using flash or something. However I haven't got a clue of where to start.
What do you guys think, or would you like to help me out with the program?
Cheers,
Jaan |
Sounds very interesting. I would be happy to help if I can, but I'd like some clarification.
What is the project goal and what is the protocol? ie what are you attempting to demonstrate and what experimental protocols do you plan to abide by to ensure the integrity of any experimental conclusion? I presume that in general terms you will be attempting to show that the modern 'ear' is 'tuned' by conditioning to prefer certain temperaments? My own musical knowledge is not sufficient to be able to make informed comment, but I have worked as a recording engineer and do understand the basics of musical temperament, pitch/frequency, voice etc. If I can be of any assistance please let me know....Do you think that the nature of your data wolud change based on where the participant came from? That is, would there be a major difference if the title were "temperament and the modern asian, african, polynesian, (etc) ear". In other words is ther western ear tempered differently from those from different cultures not benefitting from Bach? I know that this probably isn't helpful, but as the husband of musiclogist, silly things often come to mind....
Bryan
Yes, something along the likes of that.
I will have different sounds at different frequencies (mainly thirds and tonics) and the idea would be to see whether you can tell that they are different.
The idea is to create a "survey" type thing. ie subject listens to sounds, responding yes/no. The hard part will be finding people to try this on.
With the survey, it will be easy to test many variables (age, country, ethnicity, etc.).
The survey could be in Flash. I can't think of anything else "online" at the moment.
| ravenbsp wrote: |
Do you think that the nature of your data wolud change based on where the participant came from? That is, would there be a major difference if the title were "temperament and the modern asian, african, polynesian, (etc) ear". In other words is ther western ear tempered differently from those from different cultures not benefitting from Bach? I know that this probably isn't helpful, but as the husband of musiclogist, silly things often come to mind....
Bryan |
I think (from my amateur perspective) that your suggestion is bang on the money... | Jaan wrote: |
Yes, something along the likes of that.
|
I'm going to offer some serious critique in the spirit of helpfulness rather than cynicism so please understand the following in that light: | Quote: |
I will have different sounds at different frequencies (mainly thirds and tonics) and the idea would be to see whether you can tell that they are different. |
1st point....if testing temperament you would presumably want to use sequences of pitch progression to illustrate the different catalogued temperaments as well as chords conforming to the pitch intervals ?
2nd point.......are you also trying to determine preference?in which case you would presumably want to capture some subjective data about which sound sequence/chord is preferred... | Quote: |
| The idea is to create a "survey" type thing. ie subject listens to sounds, responding yes/no. The hard part will be finding people to try this on. |
That need not be a problem. The more difficult problem is sample control. I would need to ask for help with the stats implications - to be a serious experiment you need to consider many factors, some obvious; like the non-representativeness of an internet-only sample group; some less obvious. The best way is often to throw open the experimental design (as you are doing here) to a wide group of scientists with more experience in these matters and see what emerges. I would suggest starting with a more complete experimental aims/objectives. What exactly are you going to be testing/sampling?
