Posted by Gus Pratt on January 01, 2002 at 09:37:27:
In Reply to: Re: Better tuba tuning posted by Chuck(G) on December 31, 2001 at 19:08:18:
One of the basics of musical expression is the concept of tension and release, where a musical phrase is brought to a point where it feels uncomfortable and then resolves. The most common use of this is dominant 7th chord resolving to tonic chord. For instance in the key of C major this would be the G7 chord resolving to the C chord. The G7 chord in itself is not an unstable chord but when put in context with the C chord it clashes. The B in the G7 chord is only 1/2 step from C, the F in the G7 is a 1/2 step from the E of the C chord. Our ears will be hearing and waiting for the C chord, so when we hear the G7 our mind hears someting that is unstable and then we hear it resolve to something stable. So when played back to back we actually want the G7 chord to be out of tune so it creates more of the tension and release. We play the F flat so it sounds closer to the E. We play the B sharp so it sound more like a C. It's this tension and release in music that turns music from just a science, and makes it an art. True art brings out emotion, and its this constant resolving of chords throughout music that beckons our emotions. From the stance of science intonation would be best if it were true, from the stance of art that is not the case.