Hello folks, Thankyou Bob Scott for your commonsensical comments about seconds: "If you are wondering if 432 Hz is "universal" because it is divisible by 8, consider this: Since the number of cycles per second is based on the definition of the second, you would first have to show that the time interval of one second is in some sense "universal". It is not. It is based on the completely arbitrary way we divide a day into 86400 seconds. An isolated civilization could just as well have come up with a different unit of time under which the same pitch that we call 432 cycles per second would be called 373.248 cycles per centon in their units. (A centon is 1/100,000 of a day.) Bob Scott Ann Arbor, Michigan" These ideas about universal harmony hark back to an old and discredited concept called "The music of the spheres", which held that the orbits of the planets corresponded to a musical harmonic series. Incidentally, I believe the Second is defined these days as a function of the frequency of vibration of the nucleus of a Ceasium atom, or some such. And I have to echo Newton's succinct comment after reading the quote from Buckminster Fuller. Sorry, A440A@aol.com! Regarding all this metaphysical musing, I am reminded of Douglas Adams' "Hitch-hiker's Guide To The Galaxy", in which a supercomputer took millenia to find the answer to the Great Question of Life, The Universe and Everything, and found the answer to be 42. Then it took further millennia to find the question to the answer, and the question turned out to be "What is six times nine" Newton, I find I am in more or less complete agreement with you also respecting the bagpipe, in my opinion a usually less than euphonious instrument. Gina, thanks for your musings about fortepianos etc, with which I entirely agree. In fact, I'm not against fortepianos per se so much as I'm against fortepiano-snobs who maintain that they're the only thing. Melvyn Tan, eminent British fortepianist has, of recent times I believe been seduced by the Bosendorfer imperial, and I'm glad to hear it! Anyway, I'm inclined to think his fortepiano recording career was about filling a marketing niche. Nothing wrong in that, of course. But, like you, I enjoy variety and something different, to freshen the ear. Newton, regarding Bosendorfer upright price, yes, it's pretty chilling, BUT, when I looked at British prices last Autumn, the S&S model K was £18,848 and the Bosendorfer £15,999. (Don't know if the Pounds Sterling sign will come out in your email, so I'd better make it clear those prices are Sterling. A lot more in US Dollars) About 4000 Dollars cheaper for the Bosendorfer, which in my view is better anyway. Quality European uprights are a shocking price, it seems, while there is a raft of quite decent small grands of asian orogin available cheaper than these uprights. So, no-one heard of Steingraeber then? They really do exist, and even have a website. Best wishes all. David Boyce. David@bouncer.force9.net
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