Sunday Synth Jam: Synthesist Dolores Catherino shared this polychromatic synth performance, N?SCENT – coming into being.
She shares this about the composition:
Crisis seems to be the catalyst to profound change and progress. A crisis-evolution cycle repeats throughout human experience. In difficult times, greatness emerges – compassion in the midst of hostility; awareness in the midst of deception; striving in the midst of apathy; hope in the midst of despair.
As the rate of change accelerates, some take advantage of the fear caused by this instability. And yet these same actions also create the conditions for the development of inner strength, purpose and greater meaning in response.
Catherino’s music explores explores the possibilities of polychromatic pitch divisions – systems of microtuning that allow for seldom-heard scales and harmonies. She performs with a Starr Labs Microzone U-648 Generalized Keyboard. It offers 288 keys which can be used with a wide variety of tonal systems.
For a deeper look at the technical aspects of her music, check out her introduction to polychromatic music and electronic instruments that work well with alternate scales and tunings:
Once in a while on eBay there is a Korg or some keyboard with whole tone keys, but I have yet to see one of those Starr Labs keyboards available anywhere.
Apparently there is a Lumatone Microtonal Keyboard still under work that might come out in the coming years
Mesmerizing.
Admin: Personal attack deleted (name calling).
Keep comments on topic and constructive.
What’s “holding microtonal music back” is the limitations of the often narrowly-experienced listeners and the fact that a lot of it sounds just plain sour unless you know what the seeds of it are about. If public schools hadn’t had their arts programs decimated by politics and hostile budgeting, kids could be introduced to, for example, the lovely brass overtone series. No one has really touched the arena in a broadly-appreciable manner since Wendy Carlos released “Beauty In The Beast.” Its fascinating and shows you the how and WHY of several tunings, including Carlos Alpha. Start with a hearing of that full album and many younger people will be drawn to it. Two cents’ worth.