ear_pi.txt
js 2003.03.09

ear pi [ a math 'n' music continuum ]


kim asked for music using pi [math constant]. this is what i made.

the music has 2 main layers:
1. a computerized voice reading the digits of pi, spaced according to
   their value; so that a 'three' lasts for 3 seconds, a 'seven' for 7,
   and so on.
2. a 'sounding out' of the 22 / 7 ratio [analog pi] in rhythmic
   counterpoint; over the span of a minute, one voice plays seven beats
   and the other twenty two.

the feel of layer 2 is influenced by javanese music- well, except that
the tempo is too rigid. the way i was looking at the math was counting
against the seconds, so i kept the tempo steady. and 3 minutes is still
ok for a steady tempo.

also, even though the requirement is to make 3 minutes 14 seconds of
music, pi is better approximated with 3 minutes and 8 seconds [ 8/60 ~=
14/100] so i included both pre- and post- lude to fill the allotted
time.  the title should really be written with the greek letter pi
instead of 'pi', that way it maps to the number better [pi == point].
but this is ascii text, without greek letters.

MD5 (ear_pi.mp3) = 45d4c4c79c556eb89a3e9038190705cb
released under EFF open audio license (O)