Klarinet Archive - Posting 000974.txt from 1998/05

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Solfeggio
Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 01:40:23 -0400

On Sat, 16 May 1998, Mark Charette wrote:

> Solfeggio uses the Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do syllables for a 8 tone
> scale.

That scale, the standard major scale, is actually referred to by theorists
as a 7-tone scale, because the tonic pitch is repeated so there are
actually just 7 different pitches, or "pitch classes," in theorists talk.
(A "heptatonic" scale - still more theorists talk.)

> However, I don't know how you'd solfedge a 12-tone scale other than
> making up a few more syllables.

The syllables already exist for every tone of the chromatic scale.
However, this points out one of the problems of solfeggio. When the music
gets any more complicated than just simple diatonicism, the syllable
system becomes more complicated than the music. So, there is a point of
diminishing returns.

Ed Lacy
*****************************************************************
Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
*****************************************************************

---------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org