In this month’s article, I thought I’d spend a little time discussing the scales that I’ve chosen to represent my interpretations of Gorean Music. For the most part, I use the 12 intervals that Western 8 note scales are built on. This particular system was formalized a couple of thousand years ago by a Greek mathematician/philosopher named Pythagoras. It may be coincidence that he not only developed this method of musical relationships but also suggested the existence of an "alter Earth". Some deep thinkers believe that it was the g-o-r in his name that inspired John Norman to call our little "other earth": Gor.

Before this starts too much commotion, I want to state that I agree with those that say: "Hey, just wait a darn ehn"! "That does not necessarily mean that the same system is used on Gor". Certainly that is true. It is not even the case among all cultures here on Earth. One Asian scale recognizes only five notes. There is one on the Indian sub-continent that uses 22. However, I am bound by practicably to Midi for this project. As I’ve said numerous times, midi is very constraining. This is part of what I mean: Midi uses this scale for creating and recognizing tones in current computer sound generating programs. Semitones, even microtones can be achieved with some difficulty. In my case, that has proved a mathematical nightmare.

I did feel that remaining the comfortable Major/minor patterns would be entirely to "familiar". I’ve taken to playing with uncommon modes and unusual voicings. I’m experimenting with the Dorian and Lydian, tinkering around with the Spanish double harmonic. I’ve tried Philippine and Middle Eastern scales; even found one from ancient Hungary that seems particularly promising. Then, I find out all I can about a Gorean region or city. I try to imagine what a 4,000-year-old culture of that area might produce. What would they eat, how would they make their livings, what celebrations would be important to them? What might their music sound like? I try to pick a culture here on earth that fairly closely relates to what I theorize and unlock the imagination. Please note that I do not claim to be an expert historian. I am not a well-rounded theorist. I really make no claim at all, other than that of a reasonably competent musician. Certainly, I hope that you enjoy what I do here, but I do this because it is part of a process. It is the process of me becoming my truest, most real, self. Above all, that seems to be the Gorean thing to do.

When I first started all of this, I challenged you readers to offer suggestions of how music might play a role in our mutual Gorean society. TimbrWolf of Turia has taken up the gauntlet and commissioned a war song of celebration. In one of Turia’s never-ending battles with the Wagon Peoples, two long separated brothers were reunited and the plains scorched in a devastating Turian victory. Fire_on_the_Plains is this month’s offering. The Ubar of Turia has heard this tune and not taken my head. He is such a cranky old cuss that I can only assume that means he approves.

I do wish you all well

Strummer

A Musician in the Caste of Entertainers

Koroban@mailcity.com

Fire_on_the_plains.mid (midi 8.83KB - 9,052 bytes)

For Netscape users, hold your right mouse button down and select "Save Link As". Press your left mouse button to load and play. If you need a plug-in, try MIDI plug-ins. For Internet Explorer users, hold your mouse button down and select "Download Link to Disk". Make sure you have Play Sounds (both wave and midi) "on" under Options, under Edit. For many other browsers, just click on the MIDI selection and it will download.