In article <dbrp3h$6p5$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
Albert Silverman <slvrmn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>Alice:
>
> In response to an overwhelming number of requests from my Wonderful
> friends, I have consented to present a lecture on Ancient Musical
> logic. It will fit in perfectly in this forum.
>
> What our Ancient Revered One refers to as "tonal" music contains
> entities (known as "chords") which are constructed from the tones of
> either a diatonic major or (harmonic) minor scale. No other scales
> need apply, in qualifying for the label "tonal." The chord
> constructed upon the first degree of either of these two scales is
> known as the "tonic" chord. The tonic chord also serves as the
center
> of harmonic activity--a stable point of rest in the harmonic system.
> "Home base," as it were.
>
> Now then, "atonal" music, by definition, is music which is not
tonal.
> Therefore, music which contains chords that are constructed from
some
> *other* type of scale is atonal, by definition. Such music may well
> have a chord which serves as the center of harmonic activity--a
> stable point of rest in the harmonic system. Thus, music which
> has all of the attributes of tonal music, except for the fact that
> it contains chords that are constructed from some other type of
scale
> (such as a "mode," for example) is atonal music, according to the
> thinking of our Ancient Revered One, and his followers who teach in
> our colleges and universities.
>
> What these fine folks do not realize is that they cannot have their
> cake and eat it too; even if there is plenty of tea to go around.
>
>The Hatter:
>
> Nonsense, my dear Little Girl. Music composed from the tones of a
> mode is not atonal music; it is "modal" music. In other words, the
> musical universe consists of tonal music, atonal music, and modal
> music. Perfectly logical. If you wear a Hat, that is. After all, I
> *am* a Doctor, you know--of Haberdashery (DBS.HbrD).
>
> What's more, atonal music was not invented until the 20th century.
> Everyone knows that. So it is simply impossible for music composed
> before the 20th century to be atonal. That settles the issue.
>
>Alice:
>
> What does that BS in DBS.HbrD stand for?
>
>The Hatter:
>
> It's tea-time, everyone.
>
>The King:
>
> I'll croak to that!
>
>The Frog:
>
> Excuse *me*, your Majesty.
>
>
>-----------------------------
>Albert Silverman
>(Al is in Wonderland!)
>where relevance is irrelevant
>(10)
your music, Al?
--
Matthew H. Fields http://www.umich.edu/~fields
Music: Splendor in Sound
To be great, do better and better. Don't wait for talent: no such thing.
Brights have a naturalistic world-view. http://www.the-brights.net/
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