Mark Lew:

>  The Western 
scale was built around fifths and major thirds, or else just fifths, 
depending on which temperament you're looking at.

No it wasn't. Like almost every other musically significant scale before the 20th 
century, all Western scales 
(there's more than one, you know!) were in existence long before any attempt to 
justify them theoretically.
Like other heptatonic scales worldwide, the underlying basis of these scales stems 
from the basic human
propensity to prefer major seconds when singing. Nobody prior to the last 100 years 
ever said "hmm, I think
I'll design me a scale so I can make some music." The music comes first, the scale 
second, and the explanation
last of all. It is very important to remember this, IMO.


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