What is perfect pitch?

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

Idle thoughts from an idle mind - or - thoughts while tuning a practice room
console.

Yes, Virginia, there is perfect pitch.  If you want there to be, and you
assume (and fill) the definition thereof.

Unfortunately, the definition of that quality/ability has been confusing for
years.  As a child growing up in a fairly musical family, I recall the term
being applied in at least two different ways at different times.

Is it:

1. The ability to name the pitch (or deviation from a pitch) of an isolated
note played by an instrument long after any previous note has faded from a
normal pitch memory, or obliterated by a period of "white" noise.

        1.a. The ability to name the key signature of unfamiliar music.

2.  The ability to generate a given pitch, again isolated by time, by voice
or  instrument.

Problems:

What tolerance can be given?  Within how many cents must the generation (2)
or recognition (1) be?  If tolerances are too close, then variances between
temperaments will alter the results.  If they are too wide, the exercise
becomes meaningless.

1.a.  - Key recognition is very suspect if the music is performed in an
unequal (read HT) temperament where key colors are as easily recognised by
the cognisenti as sighted people recognise visual colors. Any testing of
this definition would have to be in ET with it's designed _lack_ of coloration.

1. - Pitch recognition must be done with an instrument a strong fundamental
and probably having stronger even than odd harmonics which would have the
effect of reiterating the note at higher octaves. Orchestral chimes would
_not_ work well.

2. - Pitch generation is probably for what those tuners who claim they've
developed perfect pitch would be most easily tested.  I personally don't
claim to have PP, but after 24yrs of tuning I can usually set A440 within
about 5cents w/o a tuning device. 

Certainly _not_ within PTG testing standards for A440, but for other notes
certainly within range of possibilities presented by various temperaments.
So I suppose, maybe I DO have PP.  Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice. 

Not yet having the opportunity to read the study, could those who _have_
fill in more details?  What variables, what controls?

Does this put me on the BB compound fence?

Conrad

Conrad Hoffsommer		Office - (319) 387-1204
Luther College                         Music Dept Fax - (319) 387-1076
700 College Drive
Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045             hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu

If I had multiple personality disorder, my resume would make more sense.