Yes, I agree with you, Jon. Whereas I am always aware of modal characteristics when I play or sing anything in any mode, it is not clear to me how ascending and descending notes are different on instruments that have fixed intervals, unless you use a very unusual technique. For example, on instruments that go out of tune all the time, rather than quit playing to tune again, you can stop the string behind the nut if the string goes flat to bring it up to pitch. This technique is rather unorthodox and not recommended except in desperate situations. Other than that I can't see how fretted instruments have the degree of pitch control that violins, violas, etc.
Maybe Mathais can enlighten both of us on this one. best, Marion -----Original Message----- From: Jon Murphy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Feb 25, 2005 8:36 PM To: Lutelist <[email protected]>, Mathias R�sel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Lute game for MS Windows. Mathias, > well, yes, it does. I, for one, when I play renaissance music, enjoy > listening to ascending and descending lines that follow the habits of > their respective modes. It's fun and it makes that music so much more > interesting to me. You have lost me here, perhaps it is my lack of formal early music education. This is a question, not a quarrel. I don't see how the ascending and descending lines can differ on a fretted instrument. I'm interpreting your meaning as being that the intervals subtly vary (as they can on a violin type instrument) depending on the direction. One has to eat the Pythagorean comma somewhere. But it was my understanding that the several forms of tempering on fixed pitch/note instruments (fretted, harp, piano, etc) were a way solve the comma by averaging. Not because it wanted solution, but because it needed it when the note pitches were fixed by the frets whatever the direction of flow. I'm sure you are right, but please help me in understanding it. Best, Jon To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
