Stephen Birkett's post Re: Hertz and Cents

[Doug Mahard]

Ow, that hertz! Sorry Stephen, the next time I have a question to ask
perhaps I'll think twice and just remain ignorant.  Save everybody the
prospect of a good discussion.  :)

Doug Mahard, original poster of Hertz and Cents question.


----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Birkett <birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: Hertz and Cents


> Why is there so much discussion about such a simple concept. Cents, and
> semitones too, are expressions of proportional relationships - nothing
> more and nothing less. If you want to calculate cents (or semitones) to
> compare two factors (pitches, string diameters, lengths, wire material
> densities or whatever) there is a trivial formula that can be used in any
> spreadsheet or hand calculator or even a slide rule (the 12 and the log 2
> relate to the convention that 100%, or proportion of 2:1, is 12
> semitones). Nothing sophisticated is required. Cents or semitone
> proportions can also be determined without calculation using a monochord.
> As mentioned more than enuf times already, all of this is presented in a
> very coherent way in the Poletti critique:
>
>  http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PaulPoletti/KosterKritique.PDF
>
> > For further explanations of cents and how they relate to logs, and how
> > logs (log 2) relates to music scales and a little history of how and by
whom
> > cents came about,  I have an article I would gladly email out for "peer
> > review".  I am hoping the math part is written for "left brainers" such
as
> > musicians and many of us  technicians, ---ric
> >
> Ric, I would strongly encourage you to read the Poletti stuff.
>
> Stephen
>
> Stephen Birkett Fortepianos
> Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos
> 464 Winchester Drive
> Waterloo, Ontario
> Canada N2T 1K5
> tel: 519-885-2228
> mailto: birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca
>