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intonation

noun: the way in which your voice rises or falls when you speak
noun: the production of musical tones (by voice or instrument); especially the exactitude of the pitch relations
noun: the act of singing in a monotonous tone
noun: singing by a soloist of the opening piece of plainsong
noun: rise and fall of the voice pitch

Ramsay


There are very few things in music which have not change written upon them. TWELVE and THREE, however, are stable. There is nothing that will disturb the propriety of the circle of twelve fifths, as in the tempered system of music; for, although the mathematical-intonation indulges in thirteen keys, the thirteenth is simply the first of a new cycle of twelve.
The working model of three fifths is that which possesses musical life-powers; and these life-powers go with it wherever it goes, and they go with nothing else. [Scientific Basis and Build of Music, page 74]


Hughes
study of the natural sciences, as we progress, we find that "hills peep o'er hills, and alps o'er alps arise." As regards keyed instruments, it appears that the effect of those notes which act two parts, such as C# and Dâ™­, is rectified in some way so as to be perfectly attuned to the ideal of harmony within us. Again, the "Amen" sung by the choir in a cathedral may not be in accurate tune, but if nearly the correct intonation is sounded, after traveling along the aisles, the chords always return to the ear in perfect harmony, because the natural laws of music, assisted by the echoing power of the building, have attuned them to the perfect harmonical triad. If the "Amen" be too much out of tune, these laws decline to interfere, and there is no such helpful resonance.* [Harmonies of Tones and Colours, The Method of Development or Creation of Harmonies2, page 16]

See remarks on the wonderful power of the ear in adjusting defects of intonation in Macfarren's Lectures on Harmony, No. II. [Harmonies of Tones and Colours, The Method of Development or Creation of Harmonies2, page 16]

See Also


flat
sharp

Created by Dale Pond. Last Modification: Friday February 12, 2021 03:42:07 MST by Dale Pond.