Acoustics Experiment – F Major

So in an effort to be a better teacher, I have spent more time studying the physics of sound – focusing my time on a higher understanding of Just Intonation. It dawned on me that I need to use music from the Madison Scouts 2011 production to show examples like you are about to see/hear. Using Reason, I sustain the pitches of the chord I am demonstrating. Each time the chord is played, the intonation is slightly offset, followed by a gliss toward the chord in Just Intonation.

Take a look at this image.

GRID-Left to Right: Concert Pitches from Gb0 through C5
GRID-Top to Bottom: Cents
Top Left-hand Corner: Chord Name and Just Intonation of the chord
Top Right-hand GRID: Chord (written pitches) on the score- Trumpets, Mellos, Low Brass
Bottom Right-hand Corner: Title and Measure Number (in this case, NY, NY measure23)
BLUE BOXES: Surround the individual notes that is being played on the Cent where Just Intonation is achieved
Bottom of the GRID: Instruments listed below corresponding pitches
Here is how the F Major chord sounds in Just Intonation- F is ZERO, A is -14, C is +2.[player track=”https://bradkerrgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FM_m23-ex1.mp3″]
Listen to mp3 Quicktime
[line]
Now, let’s do a little THX-ing and listen to what’s going on with Just Intonation.
The pitch F will always be at ZERO.
Every example will end up like Example 1 by :04 mark.
Example 2 – we will put A at +25 and C at – 25.
Example 3 – we will put A at +10 and C at -10.
Example 4 – we will put A at 0 and C at 0.

Take a look at Example 2 below and listen to the example. Technically, it’s an F Major chord, but the tuning is extremely sharp in the A (+25) and extremely flat with C (-25).

Listen to the chord adjust to Just Intonation by :04.
[player track=”https://bradkerrgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FM_m23-ex2.mp3″]
Listen to mp3 Quicktime
[line]
Take a look at Example 3 below and listen to the example. Again, it’s an F Major chord, but the tuning is really sharp in the A (+10) and really flat with C (-10).

Listen to the chord adjust to Just Intonation by :04.
[player track=”https://bradkerrgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FM_m23-ex3.mp3″]
Listen to mp3 Quicktime
[line]
Finally, check out Example 4. This example is subtle. It starts with all three pitches at ZERO.

Listen for beats; listen to them disappear into Just Intonation by :04.
[player track=”https://bradkerrgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FM_m23-ex4.mp3″]
Listen to mp3 Quicktime

This is the first of many entries like this. I have listened to these recordings on great speakers and average ear buds; I successfully heard differences on both. This is not new information, but it does clearly display the validity to Just Intonation.

Please share your thoughts.

[line]