Margo on Why 12 notes (long)

[Clyde Hollinger]

Friends,

Although I recognize that I may be getting in over my head here, I would like to
add that I regard the current 12-tone chromatic scale as useful not only in
western music but in helping us understand most music from around the world.

When I was a music teacher I spent a little time with a study called
"Cantometrics: A Study of Singing Style" or something similar.  Singing examples
were recorded from almost all people groups of the world for analysis.  If my
powers of recall are correct, the music of nearly all could be written down
using our current system of notation.

Granted, some cultures use only the five-tone pentatonic scale, while others,
using microtones, go beyond our familiar system.  But I've wondered if there is
something "natural" about the twelve tones as most of us perceive them, or about
the diatonic scales, all the variances of tuning differences notwithstanding.

Regards, Clyde

>    For those of historical bent, or who have been stumped by the question of
> why do we have 12 notes on the octave,  I would like to cross-post a
> beautifully written perspective from Margo Schulter.  After reading it,  I
> said to myself, "I know this stuff, but had forgotten how it all went
> together....."
>    Hope this is of some value to list members.
> Regards,
> Ed Foote RPT