Klarinet Archive - Posting 001028.txt from 1998/05

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Solfege - 12 tone and what not.
Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 12:43:25 -0400

On Mon, 18 May 1998, Neil Leupold wrote:

> On Sun, 17 May 1998, Shouryu Nohe wrote:
>
> > the Eastman system is a generally accepted counting system
> > (my preference), even though not everyone uses it. Yet it will break down
> > far easier than the movable do solfege system if you toss something funny
> > at it.
>
> How is the number system -- be it moveable or fixed -- more fragile
> than a syllable system? The syllables themselves can be confusing
> because they change depending on which direction you're singing in.
> With numbers, the "syllable" is constant no matter what -- it will
> always be a number between 1 and 12 (inclusive), whether the music
> is tonal, modal, 12-tone, or atonal. Throw a tone row or set theory
> at it -- the number system is perfectly robust. Personally, I like
> the syllables better, but I can't explain why in objective terms.
> I think my brain is simply more comfortable with words than numbers.
> But perhaps you can offer an objective reason about how the number
> system is more prone to "break down" when something funny is thrown
> at it, as opposed to conventional solfege. No flame intended. I
> think maybe there's an element to this that I've not yet noticed.

The Eastman system isn't a pitch system - it's a counting system. The
number system was around long before Eastman established it. I was
referring to the fact that once you get into 32nd notes, sextuplet 16ths,
and wierd combinations, the ol' te ta system gets waaaay too confusing.
Yet it is a commonly accepted standard. Most people don't have a beef
with it. Whereas Solfege won't break down so easily, yet a lot of
people think that a) it's inferior to other systems 2) it's a waste of
time c) it's too complicated (trust me, if _I_ can do it, it's NOT that
hard) and f) it has too many faults.

I've never heard the number system referred to as the Eastman
before...hm...

Shouryu Nohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe; ICQ 6771552
Coffee Drinker, Musician, Otaku, Jesus Freak, Admirer of Women
(Not necessarily in that order)
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