02 Oct 19
@handyandy saidErr....that was sort of the point.
If it corresponds to pi (3.14159...) the digits never end. Hence, a repeat sign is pointless.
If we extended the piano keyboard to 99 notes, the first two numbers in every 5 digit sequence would give you pitch. The second three would give you the duration in hemi-demi-semi quavers. 999 would imply a duration of 15 crochets.
Would that ensure every basic melody ever written would be played at some time?
If so, couldn’t all harmonies, dynamics, instrumentation etc simply be a process of evolution of the same method?
03 Oct 19
1 edit
@rank-outsider saidOur endless friend pi is composed of ten different digits, 0 to 9. Consequently, only ten different musical tones are available.
If we extended the piano keyboard to 99 notes, the first two numbers in every 5 digit sequence would give you pitch. The second three would give you the duration in hemi-demi-semi quavers. 999 would imply a duration of 15 crochets.
Would that ensure every basic melody ever written would be played at some time?
If so, couldn’t all harmonies, dynamics, instrumentation etc simply be a process of evolution of the same method?
As you know, the chromatic scale contains twelve tones, each a semitone above or below its adjacent tone. That leaves two orphan tones not represented by one of pi's digits.
Some melodies could be played, but not all of them.
03 Oct 19
@handyandy saidYou are assuming that pi is written in decimal.
Our endless friend pi is composed of ten different digits, 0 to 9. Consequently, only ten different musical tones are available.
As you know, the chromatic scale contains twelve tones, each a semitone above or below its adjacent tone. That leaves two orphan tones not represented by one of pi's digits.
Some melodies could be played, but not all of them.
Use base 12 and you have your 12 notes.
Use base 48 and spread across 4 octaves.
Et cetera, et cetera ....
03 Oct 19
@rank-outsider saidSurely music is analogue and cannot be exactly reduced to numbers?
If we extended the piano keyboard to 99 notes, the first two numbers in every 5 digit sequence would give you pitch. The second three would give you the duration in hemi-demi-semi quavers. 999 would imply a duration of 15 crochets.
Would that ensure every basic melody ever written would be played at some time?
If so, couldn’t all harmonies, dynamics, instrumentation etc simply be a process of evolution of the same method?
03 Oct 19
@handyandy saidMaybe I didn't explain myself so well.
Our endless friend pi is composed of ten different digits, 0 to 9. Consequently, only ten different musical tones are available.
If you split up Pi into blocks of more than one digit, you can cover every note on the standard piano.
So, under my suggestion Middle C would be assigned the number, say, 50, C sharp 51, B natural 49 etc. but extending the keyboard a bit longer than standard.
So,
3.14159265359
Would become
31415 (for note one)
92653 (for note two)
31 would be the note to be played on the piano, for a duration of 415 hemi-demi-semiquavers (6.5 crochets).
The question is, would this mean that, eventually, every simple melody ever written would be played?
03 Oct 19
@wolfgang59 saidNot sure I know what you mean. I think my Iphone does a pretty good job of this....
Surely music is analogue and cannot be exactly reduced to numbers?
03 Oct 19
1 edit
@rank-outsider saidYour original proviso ["each number is assigned a different note on the piano"] is what lead us down the wrong trail. Instead of "each number" it should be "each group of five digits."
Maybe I didn't explain myself so well.
If you split up Pi into blocks of more than one digit, you can cover every note on the standard piano.
So, under my suggestion Middle C would be assigned the number, say, 50, C sharp 51, B natural 49 etc. but extending the keyboard a bit longer than standard.
So,
3.14159265359
Would become
31415 (for note one)
...[text shortened]... The question is, would this mean that, eventually, every simple melody ever written would be played?
In that case it seems likely that all simple melodies could be played.
05 Oct 19
@attilathehorn saidAt last I caught someone!
It's a piece for organ by John Cage, likely a response to his 4"33". It's called ASLSP (as slow as possible). A performance of it is taking place right now in Germany, begun in 2001, and it won't be completed for 639 years, until the year 2640.
This would have been my answer up until a few weeks ago.
Until I cam across this:-
Not content with being relegated to the history books, London’s only
lighthouse is now home to Longplayer, a continuous 1,000 year long
piece of music. Initially switched on for the millennium celebrations,
the music will run uninterrupted until midnight on the 31st December 2999.
There’s a listening room in the lighthouse itself, or you can listen to the live stream
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Londons-Only-Lighthouse/
A 1,000 year long piece of music!
05 Oct 19
@rank-outsider saidI'm assuming that there are an infinite number of frequencies between say B and C.
Not sure I know what you mean. I think my Iphone does a pretty good job of this....
But I'm not sure that is true, in fact I think it false (Planck length et c.)
06 Oct 19
2 edits
@wolfgang59 saidYou stipulated the piece could be composed, not just had to be being performed.
I'm assuming that there are an infinite number of frequencies between say B and C.
But I'm not sure that is true, in fact I think it false (Planck length et c.)
I just composed one which is infinitely longer than yours and never repeats.
I may not be entering into the spirit of the question....
07 Oct 19
@rank-outsider saidThe "spirit of the question" was to have a light-hearted chat about
You stipulated the piece could be composed, not just had to be being performed.
I just composed one which is infinitely longer than yours and never repeats.
I may not be entering into the spirit of the question....
something inconsequential which I stumbled across. Your admirable
contributions are completely in keeping with that. Thank you.