Harmonic/ Consonant, (was partial)

[A440A at aol.com]

Frank writes: 
<<  The harmonic series is so common to "musical" sound that it defines what 
we
perceive as harmonic or dissonant.  >>

Greetings, 
         I don't think the series, per se, defines what is dissonant. There 
seems to be some confusing mixing of terms here, so I may be misreading the 
intended message.   
     What confuses me is where "Harmonic" is being used in contrast to 
"dissonant".  Dissonant is usually taken to be the opposite of "consonant".  
Harmonic and consonant are not the same thing,  so I am confused.      
          I suggest that what we perceive as dissonant depends on how two or 
more harmonic series interact with one another; that our perception, inre 
consonance, is more a function of the ratio between the series than the ratio 
within each of them.  Dissonant or consonant sounds can be made with pure sine 
waves.   
regards, 
 
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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