Talk:Xenharmony

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[edit] Definition

The definition currently given is not accurate. Xenharmonic is not a synonym for microtonal. Xenharmonic tunings are tunings that do not sound like standard tuning. This is in contrast to the use of tunings like meantone and low limit just intonation, which sound like and can substitute for equal tunings in much music, without most listeners even noticing. Xj 00:13, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

Fixed. Hyacinth 19:07, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

That's a very good fix to the opening sentence. Thanks.

I'd like to propose removing the 'it often includes all microtonal music' as well unless there's a source or something. Either eliminate that or change it to something like "it is sometimes mistakenly used to mean all microtonal music, a usage in contradiction to Darreg's use of the term." But I think just cutting that part out would be best unless there's something someone's thinking of in particular here. Any one have any thoughts on this?

The example of 19 tone might be a bit misleading. 19 can indeed be used xenharmonically but one of its most commonly discussed strengths is its use as a 19 length version of baroque meantone tuning, and when used in that particular way its not xenharmonic, so I'd see 19 as a bit of a weak example. Now among the ETs 13tET, 23tET and 11tET are all good examples of more fully xenharmonic tunings. Pretty much all nonoctave tunings are xenharmonic, such as Carlos' alpha, beta and gamma, and 88cET. Ah shoot, I'm just going to make the changes on this one.

Also, no one really uses the term xenharmony compared to xenharmonic. Would it be better to have xenharmony point to xenharmonic instead? Or is it because xenharmony would be a sort of a noun instead of an adjective and nouns are preferred on wikipedia? I'll note that there's an article for microtonal music and not microtone - both microtone and microtonality redirect to microtonal music. Maybe the title of this page could be Xenharmonic Music. Xj 05:32, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Just temperament

Interesting that Justly tempered scales are considered xenharmonic. That makes them foreign, but, of course they're from the same lands as where equal temperament was born. What's more, justly tuned music doesn not even sound foreign, which is one criterion this article gives for xenharmony. It's a rare listener that can even tell mean from just. 198.49.180.40 18:45, 27 April 2007 (UTC)