5 Apr
2007
5 Apr
'07
2:49 p.m.
There are 12 frequencies of sound that are recognized
by the human ear
as musical notes.
Mathematically speaking, there is an infinite number of frequencies which
are perceivable by our ear (20-20,000Hz by convention, plus their decimal
subdivisions). However, not all of them are distinguishable by our ears.
Still, I would say this number is pretty large, definitely much larger than
just 12.
The limited use of other frequencies can produce
rhythms to bind the
notes into musical compositions. Technology gives us the ability to
turn everything into a drum, but you still need those 12 frequencies
to produce melody.
You can use any collection of frequencies to produce melody, rhythm, or
timbre. The 12-note division is an arbitrary (alright, semi-arbitrary, to
keep Paul happy ;-) collection of pitches whose tuning is arbitrarily
assigned.
I am sure that someone smarter than I could precisely
describe
mathematically what constitutes rhythm and melody. Not all sound is
music, but any sound can be incorporated into music.
Actually, no sound is music unless consciously treated as such by a composer
and perceiver, in which case any sound can be music.
Best wishes,
Ico