Octaves, part 1

 

Some of my double-course instruments have courses tuned in octaves.  I've always been drawn to octave-tuned double-courses.  To me, they sound very open and full of light and air.  Additionally, I've always heard the diapason and the higher octave separately as two notes.  Sometimes as a wide-voiced unison.  I can also hear them as one note harmonized by the other.

However, of late, I realize that I'm hearing the octave-tuned double-courses differently.  I don't know if I can accurately explain it.  Instead of hearing two separate notes that are an octave apart, it seems that I'm now hearing it as almost a single note.  At times, I don't even hear it as a single note, but something more akin to a harmonic environment, or an atmosphere.

I've never heard it this way.

I don't yet know the meaning behind this new development.  I can say that it's already having an impact on my compositional conceptions when using instruments with octave-tuned double-courses.

This morning, I recorded three new compositions for two different projects.  Two of those pieces were on the 30-string Sub-Contra/Baritone guitar.  The sub-contra side of it is tuned all in octaves.  The way I'm now hearing octave-tuned courses had a palpable impact on these two pieces.

I have a feeling this is the start of a new phase.  That's all I know for now.

More to come.

-kk