Sun 6 Jun 2010
Posted by mpr under Music
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In music theory, tertian (Latin: tertianus, “of or concerning thirds”) describes any piece, chord, counterpoint etc. constructed from the interval of a third. An interval such as that between the notes A and C encompasses 3 semitone intervals (A-Bflat-B-C) and is termed a minor third while one such as that between C and E encompasses 4 semitones (C-Dflat-D-Eflat-E) and is called a major third (See Major and minor).
A common triad chord can be regarded as consisting of a “stack” of two such intervals. A musical scale may also be analysed as a succession of thirds (See Ladder of thirds). The meantone temperament, a system of tuning that emphasises pure thirds, may be called “tertian”.
Chords built from sixths may also be referred to as tertian because an ascending sixth is equal to a descending third and vice versa: any sixth can be taken as the inversion of a third. For instance the interval C-A is a major sixth that, when inverted, gives the interval A-C, which is a minor third.
Tertian concepts have been used innovatively in chord progressions, as for example in the “thirds cycle” used in John Coltrane’s Coltrane changes.
via Tertian – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Wed 3 Mar 2010
The Paris Review recently re-published a set of interviews with Kurt Vonnegut and posted them on their site (one of the interviewers was George Plimpton!).
Excerpt:
INTERVIEWER: Did the study of anthropology later color your writings?
VONNEGUT: It confirmed my atheism, which was the faith of my fathers anyway. Religions were exhibited and studied as the Rube Goldberg inventions I’d always thought they were. We weren’t allowed to find one culture superior to any other. We caught hell if we mentioned races much. It was highly idealistic.
Here’s the complete text via The Paris Review – The Art of Fiction No. 64.
Tue 11 Nov 2008
Posted by mpr under Projects
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I love the past because of all that it can teach us. I also like social tendencies of past generations and decades but you have to choose those more carefully. The 90’s was the “it’s not me” generation because the 80’s were the “me” generation. The 70’s were extremely laid back (and hairy) because the 60’s wiped us all out with war, killings of (true) leaders and more drugs than a Pfizer warehouse. This takes me to the 50’s.
What I love about watching films and seeing historical accounts from that era is that they make no apologies for the campy overtones that sometimes come from them. Words like “swell” and “golly” were actually used as light forms of slang and practically vulgar language, which is nothing short of hilarious to me. I also love the clean themes of products and even people’s lifestyles. However, that could just be because of my raging mysophobia.
Also, people looked like they had more pride in their appearance back then. When a man came home from work, to unwind from the long day he took off his suit and put on khakis and a polo shirt or a button-down. Now, you’d be lucky to see an employee show up in even that. Women as well. A dress was the standard attire. Most certainly don’t look like that anymore but I wish they did. I’m not saying women – or anyone for that matter – should be a certain way. But I wish they would. That’s different. If you can’t see how, that’s your problem.
Anyhoo, I found this clip that shows you the “modern” life of the 50’s and all that it has to offer in life’s various daily situations. No words, just some awesome music and a visual orgy of clean surfaces and smiles. Enjoy.
