The Best Time Signature

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 01:27:41

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 01:29:09

The Study No. 41, again for two player pianos, is divided into three parts: 41a, 41b and 41c. The first canon is

{\tfrac {1}{{\sqrt \pi }}}/{\sqrt {2/3}}

for the first piano, the second canon is

{\tfrac {1}{3{\sqrt \pi }}}/{\sqrt[ {3}]{13/16}}

for the second piano, and the third is

{\tfrac {{\tfrac {1}{3{\sqrt \pi }}}/{\sqrt[ {3}]{13/16}}}{{\tfrac {1}{{\sqrt \pi }}}/{\sqrt {2/3}}}}

for both pianos, in the proportions marked in the first page of the score. A complete version of the piece was first performed in at Kassel in Summer 1982.

Imipolex G · 2017-07-27 01:38:29

I can't even follow this

Imipolex G · 2017-07-27 01:39:11

I do recognize Conlon Nancarrow's name from being mentioned in a Frank Zappa song, though

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 01:45:03

He wrote pieces for player piano which initially explored difficult time signatures and polyrhythms which normal human performers would have a great deal of trouble pulling off, like setting measures of 14 against 13. Then, as time wore on, he realised the potential for exploring with relative precision ratios which no human being could ever reproduce accurately, particularly irrational numbers like square roots and constants like pi and e. This gradually escalated.

Basically, the piece is a series of nested canons playing at speeds at increasingly bizarre and improbable relationships to one another, so a few simple melodies become a wild pinwheel of impossible interactions.

Yarrun XIX · 2017-07-27 01:53:46

...what

Klinotaxis · 2017-07-27 01:57:20

i've heard of this before, but what does that even mean? an irrational number of beats?

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 02:48:53

It generally means that the relationship between the two main lines is in an irrational rhythmic relationship: One quarter note for every 3.14159... eighth notes, for instance.

Princess Alice · 2017-07-27 02:50:39

...are trig functions involved somehow?

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 02:54:55

I'm sure you could draw some weird shape based on the time signatures in Study 41 if you put your mind to it. Certainly the piano rolls themselves are quite interesting to look at.

Aliroz · 2017-07-27 02:55:34

Sredni Vashtar said:
It generally means that the relationship between the two main lines is in an irrational rhythmic relationship: One quarter note for every 3.14159... eighth notes, for instance.

Such a thing would display illegality, immorality, and innutrition.

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 03:03:36

Aliroz said:

Sredni Vashtar said:
It generally means that the relationship between the two main lines is in an irrational rhythmic relationship: One quarter note for every 3.14159... eighth notes, for instance.
Such a thing would display illegality, immorality, and innutrition.

I mean, listen to it. It's really interesting.

Bee · 2017-07-27 03:08:24

...I mean I get what it's trying to do

But I can't help but hear that one song from Extreme Paintbrawl. Like, just add random barnyard animal sounds and you're pi/4 of the way there.

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 03:10:46

I'm fairly certain this antedates that by several decades.

Bee · 2017-07-27 03:14:33

We may have finally solved the mystery of Paintbrawl's soundtrack. Dude was listening to this and then got sent to the hospital by a sudden stampede of cows ripping on Casio keyboards. Woke up with a morphine drip and was like DUUUUUUDE

Imipolex G · 2017-07-27 03:15:18

hey, don't blame us!

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 03:19:54

Complex rhythmic relationships tend to sound weird in general, particularly when you stack and alter them over time. (Of course Kalmbach name-drops Nancarrow when discussing one of the tracks.)

Fossilmaiden · 2017-07-27 03:21:37

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 03:25:38

Neat use of polyrhythm there. Not quite so extreme, perhaps thankfully, but it does add a sort of head-spinning feeling that I think befits market music, particularly with the odd pitch-shifting.

lee4hmz · 2017-07-27 03:50:55

now I'm wondering if this is even compatible with MIDI. I forget how MIDI timing works

Sredni Vashtar · 2017-07-27 04:02:33

It sort of is? I'm pretty sure you can get really close to that level of precision with something like Ableton. You just need to really go in and go hard with the fine-boned tempo bullshit and keep a calculator with you. Like actually.

Calica · 2017-07-27 04:27:39

honestly i doubt you get that much out of polyrhythms with irrational ratios beyond quadratic surds but w/e

glennmagusharvey · 2017-07-28 05:53:58

why do interesting threads show up when i am in bed and have slow net and need to get up early

> This gradually escalated.

it certainly did

The Best Time Signature

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