The Mandelbrot Set

There is great beauty in mathematics. The Mandelbrot set is just one example.

The Mandelbrot Set

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Microtonal Music Videos

Microtonal music is any music that uses a tuning other than the standard twelve note equal temperament that we are used to. This type of music is growing in popularity. I am pleased that there are now some good videos available to demonstrate some of the forms that this varied music can take.

Microtonal music is usually made with computers or retunable electronic keyboards, but it's also possible to use acoustic instruments.

This first video features two pianos that have been retuned so that they can play in a tuning with seventeen equally spaced notes to the octave instead of the usual twelve. I admire the way these two performers work together to produce music that would be impossible on a single piano.

It's almost an hour long, so you may want to grab some popcorn.

Seventeen Note Piano Project, Phase 2

This next video features a microtonal variation on the C minor scale. (The A and D notes are each thirty cents flat.)

A Scream From Lebanon

Additional Information

For program notes on the Seventeen Tone Piano Project visit xenharmonic.wikispaces.com.

For more information on microtonal music, visit my blog Daniel Thompson Microtonal Composer.

Viol Videos

Almost everyone knows about the violin family, which includes violins, violas and cellos, but many people are not aware of the somewhat similar viol family.

The viols are older than the violins and used to be very popular. They are a charming set of instruments with a pleasant sound. They were, however, quieter and easily overpowered when played with other instruments. They just couldn't compete with the louder violin family and eventually became very rare, except for the double bass which is still regularly played today.

The viols are making a small comeback. Their charm is undeniable and their soft gentle tone actually seems like an advantage in our increasingly loud and hectic world. Besides, we can now turn up the volume on viol recordings if we wish.

The first video can serve as a brief introduction to viols. This is a viola da gamba. It is kind of like a cello but if you look closely you may notice some differences.

"Chanty" Thomas Mace



The viola da gamba has frets and is held between the legs. The viola da gamba also usually has six strings instead of four for a cello (although this one has seven).

This next video will highlight an unique playing style of viols.

Sonata by Carl Friedrich Abel



Did you notice how she held the bow from behind instead of from the front? She also used a lot of fast arpeggios. The viols are tuned more like guitars than violins so they are well suited to playing the arpeggiated chords that are a common feature in viol music.

This next video is of a baryton, an unusual viol like instrument.

Baryton


This next instrument is a pardessus de viole, kind of a hybrid between a violin and a viol.

Pardessus de Viole

See also Lutes,Viols and Other Ancient Instruments.

Other Early Music Videos
Sting Plays the Lute
More Lute Videos
Guitars Playing Lute Music
A Controversial Video