I wrote:
>We've been through this before, and I realize I am in the
>minority on this, but I continue to feel that the K: field
>should describe the number of sharps or flats without naming a
>tonic and/or a mode.
A number of folks chimed in to comment that my comments might make
more sense if interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively.
I'm afraid that careful examination of my wording (specifically,
the use of "without") reveals that I cannot claim not to have been
thinking inclusively. So I guess my minority is getting smaller.
The only reason I don't advocate jettisoning the whole tonic/mode
format is that it would invalidate the large body of abc files
that already exist. But the first time I mentioned this (months
ago) I believe I said something like "Chris Walshaw made an
unfortunate choice in deciding that the K: field should contain
more information than the printed key signature does."
Tonic/mode does not affect playback or printing, which are the two
primary uses of abc (at least the way I and most of my friends use
it). It is of importance only to people (or machines) trying to
supply chords or create databases that include key information.
Phil Taylor (my hero) wrote:
>I'll repeat what I said before on this subject. If this change
>in standard becomes accepted, the vast majority of users will
>use it not just for the ambiguous tunes where it is appropriate,
>but for ALL transcriptions. We will have lost what is one of the
>major advantages of abc over conventional notation for the sake
>of dealing with a theoretical problem applying to a very small
>number of tunes.
Phil, it was with your words from last time around in mind that I
included the words, "I realize I am in the minority" in my
comments. Please clear up for me two points that I see as
obstacles to my accepting your viewpoint:
1) To what does this refer: "one of the major advantages of abc
over conventional notation"?
and
2) Is the answer to 1) so significant that it's worth severing the
tie between printed notation and abc?
Let me remind those who don't know me well that this is not a
"sour grapes" attitude espoused by someone who is uncomfortable
with modes. I studied six semesters of theory and composition in
college and find modes fascinating. As a child, I worked out the
math myself, before I found out that the Greeks (or anyone else)
had done it much earlier. My objection to giving modes a prominent
place in abc is that I believe abc should be a representation of
printed music notation and not contain information that cannot be
expressed in standard printed music notation.
______ /\/\/\/\
<______> | | | | | David Barnert
<______> | | | | | <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<______> | | | | | Albany, N.Y.
<______> \/\/\/\/
Ventilator Concertina
Bellows Bellows
(Vocation) (Avocation)
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