Claude Vivier - reconnecting the nature of sound

Equal temperament, dividing an octave into 12 equal semitones has a lot of advantages. Composers can compose with all 12 keys and freely modulate to each other. However, it is disconnected from nature. It disrupted the simple ratios of third and fifth that harmonics naturally vibrating. The harmony constructed with ET is sounded slightly out of tune.

Claude Vivier (1948-1983) was a Quebecois composer. His music emphasis on tone color. His writing focus on a melody by the most special of him is harmonized his melody by harmonic series. See the chord at m.24.


The chord (m.24) is built from the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th overtones of G2
 (the D of 11th is omitted in the chord)

He spread out the notes to smoothen the quality. However, he quantized the notes to quarter tone, it is not super accurate to the actual harmonic series.
These are the overtones notated for absolute accuracy.
(the digit cents. 1 cent = 1/100 of a semitone)
Putting the digit on the score is not very user-friendly for the performer in the 1980s, who has a pair of precise ears can tell the for a single cent. But, with modern technology, we can use a tuner and a contact mic to tune the instrument during the performance.


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