On Sun, 24 Nov 2013 20:03:33 -0600 (CST), Herbert Ward wrote > I contemplate writing an ear-training computer > program. It would select random pitches from > a scale and pair them with random note values > to create a melody, which the trainee would > listen to and try to reproduce (by voice or > instrument). The trainee could ask the program > to replay the melody as needed.
But why? If this is really meant to be a training aid for lutenists you'd want to train contextual listening. Methods like "novius modus" which train non-contextual listening are meant for musicians that perform music with no (detectable) melodic grammar (and even then, "novus modus" doen't use random pitches, it uses sequences that try to fool our traditionally-trained expectations) We train our ears/brain for a purpose - to better understand/perform some music. Generating melodies in a specific mode/melodic style and with "correct" rhythmic patterns isn't that hard (Markov to the rescue). > I have no expectation that the melodies > will usually musical. But, leaving that > question aside, my question is this: > > For a typical lutenist involved in the Renaissance > and Barqoue repertoire, what scales would be > most useful? Some possibilities would be: > major > natural minor > harmonic minor > melodic minor > dorian > mixolydian > .... See - this doesn't work at all. The mode of a melody is determined by certain melodic pattern, places where the melody rests, notes or progressions to avoid &c. Is "a e d b d' c f" dorian or phrygian ? ;-) > Also, if you're interested in using such a program, > let me know what type of computer you use (Windows, > Macintosh, or Linux). If more than a few people respond, > I'll make certain accomodations during the programming. Linux. But why reinvent the wheel? There's already a pretty good free nad open-source ear training program [http://www.solfege.org/] that does way more than what you plan for your program. And one can easily write new exercises or even program (in Python IIRC) new types of exercies [1]. Why not have a look at that program and spend your time writing more early-music training sets. Cheers, Ralf Mattes [1] I once started writing a Basso-Continuo training set, i.e. things like "Name that cadence (Per gradim/per saltus/simplex/longa/ doppia/composta &c.). A friend of mine used it to prepare for entry exams and apparently did pretty well. To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
