Author: Stick Man

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Constructing a Theory of Turkish Music Based on Practice by Traditional Masters by Dr. Can Akkoc

STATE CONSERVATORY OF TURKISH MUSIC * TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ISTANBUL “Issues Surrounding the Conflict between Theory and Practice in Turkish Music and Potential Resolutions”, conference (by invitation) to be held in Istanbul, 3-6 March 2008

 

Constructing a Theory of Turkish Music Based on
Practice by Traditional Masters

Dr. Can Akkoç

Institue of Applied Mathematics (IAM), The Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Türkiye (Turkey)

Abstract: The plausibility of constructing a theoretical model for Turkish Music, based on direct pitch measurements taken from performances by indisputable masters is discussed within the framework of current sound technology. The intent is to set the stage for building a practice-based theoretical habitat capable of spawning models that can represent the music with optimal accuracy and applicability. As the sound structures in Turkish Music are uncovered by pitch measurements and statistical analyses over a massive database, it appears, theoretical models presenting reasonable compromises between accuracy and practice may be within reach.

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Tunings for 19 Tone Equal Tempered Guitar by William A. Sethares

This is the article (more or less) as it first appeared in Experimental Musical Instruments, Vol. VI, No. 6, April 1991.

There are two ways to acquire a 19 tone equal tempered (19-tet) guitar: refret your old strat, or mortgage your mother to buy a MIDI guitar controller and suitable sound module. In either case, it is an instrument for which no “how to” books are available. How to best tune the strings? How to play a major scale? How to play a minor seventh chord? Guitars tend to be chordal instruments. Yet a 19-tet beast is unhappy with standard chord fingerings and is soured by tried and true scale runs. This article reports some explorations with a 19-tet guitar and proposes three “alternate” tunings, along with scale and chord charts. Some general strategies emerge for finding useful tunings for the strings when confronted with a new temperment.

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