GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Playback Listening
In the Thread: Audio vs. Musical pitch

Post Subject: The Narative, or The Thread, and Relative PitchPosted by Paul S on: 4/26/2013

Funny you should bring this up, since I was just thinking (today) about how some of my favorite conductors seem so adept at presenting a narative or "thread" that can "unify" otherwise-discursive material, say, Brahms, for example. Apart from other necessary gifts, I think this ability is based on an exceptional ability to "hear the piece", even by looking at the score, and I know this talent/capacity is shared among musicians, to a greater or lesser degree.

Although we sometimes speak of a piece of hi-fi gear as "intelligent", what we usually mean is that it is not "locked" into a particular mode of expression but it has a wide range of expression, and I would want this to include pitch. For just one example, it is often via pitch that we discern the passing of the "narrative torch" from one instrument or section to another. Without a coherent expression of pitch, we are literally lost in the musical woods. Of course, our ability to moderate a system's pitch should never eclipse the system's ability to render smart, coherent Music. I am too tired now to be certain, but I think this means that relative pitch - at least - should remain +/- absolute.

BTW, I hope everyone gets that the definition of "pitch" here has been broadened to include harmonics and tone.

Paul S

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