Pynchon-l-digest V2 #5238

[david christensen]

Tim Wrote:

Ahem...some of us might say that it is what makes medieval music sound out
of tune when played on modern instruments. In any case, it is why the
medievals regarded thirds as relatively dissonant, and based their
harmonies on fourths, fifths, and octaves. One handles modes by avoiding
the wolf intervals (there's really only one in a pythagorean octave), and
by not using triadic chords (which weren't invented in the middle ages,
and don't work that well with modes anyway, IMHO.)

Tim "

As a musician myself (bass guitar) and a fan of metal, blues, rock,jazz and
Bach, the defining interval of metal is the b5, the devils interval. It is
basically gospel amongst the metal fraternity that Tony Iommi of Black
Sabbath invented heavy metal. On their debut Black Sabbath, starting with
the title track, the devils interval is basically the song. A simple G power
chord then octave then the Db with vibrato forms the repeating refrain,
while Osbourne wails about a figure in black etc.

It is a classic piece of early metal. Incredibly influential for all metal
to this day. Without this interval, the genre of metal would not exist.

As for triadic chords not working with modes I would say I need more
information on your argument before I go on a rant.