Jason H Clouse wrote:
> 
> On Sun, 28 Jun 1998 00:55:13 PDT "Paul Winkler" 
> writes:
> 
> 
> >Pierce also mentions a phenomenon you've neglected, which I think
> >might
> >be significant as well: The potential presence of overtones which are
> >both strong and within a critical bandwidth so that there is audible
> >beating between them. What is the critical bandwidth? It's a ratio
> >between sine tones above which there is no perceptual rough beating.
> >It's been shown to vary with frequency: it's between 2 and 3 semitones
> >
> >from about 1,000 hz on up, but it can be much greater than 3 semitones
> >
> >at lower frequencies. In other words, above approx. 1,000 hz, two pure
> >
> >sine tones will have no discernible beating as long as they're at
> >least
> >3 semitones apart.
> 
> Ahhh!  So is *this* why they told us in part-writing to try our best not
> to stick very low notes too close together?
> 
> Jason

Actually, the rationale that I was tought, was that it more closely
resembled the distribution of frequencies in the overtone series
(voice-leading with the biggest intervals on the bottom, that is). For
right or wrong ..

Larry

--  Larry Troxler --  lt@westnet.com  --  Patterson, NY USA  --