Equal Interval System

[fep]

Does anyone know about this EIS method of music. I ran across the term on the net but don't know anything about it. But I like what I hear...

Heres a link to some students/graduates work who are studying the system, check out 'One Note Samba' by Eckler.

v.i. control forum • View topic - This Weeks Pieces [ Guest ]

What do you think of that?

[John Curran]

While i have not studied this system, i do have some ideas that i'll throw out there simply because no one else has responded. Anyone who knows this system is free to correct.

From what I heard on the link you posted, this approach sounds similar to techniques used by Arnold Schoenberg et al.

A useful technique for playing 'outside' is to take a diatonic set of intervals say C,D,E in the key of C, then play the same relationship of intervals starting on say the 3rd, - E,F#,G#. The second set of notes are outside but they work because their intervalic relationship was established by C,D,E. It also helps to repeat the rhythm. In fact, Schoenberg teaches that the easiest way to relate two musical ideas together is to replicate the rhythm of the first.

The intervalic relationship does not need to be literal either. In the above example the second set of notes could have been G#,F#,E. The same interval relationships only reversed in order.

You can also work from inside out, C,D,E to E,F#,G#; or start outside and work your way back in say F#, G#,A# to C,D,E. Again all of this occurring above a C major tonality.

This technique works great in sequences. I haven't transcribed the file you linked above but it sounded at one point as though the pianist went through a cycle of alternating ascending and descending ninth intervals.
Once the sequence gets started, the key center seems irrelevant.

The technique is effective and affords the soloist a lot of 'freedom', and can take you to places you might not normally go. It's also challenging and fun to apply 'on the fly'.

Anyway, i suspect that EIS is rooted in this Schoenberg technique. I credit Schoenberg only because his text was my introduction to the idea, someone else may have invented it.

Interesting stuff....

john

[Holmes Monaco]

i would be interested in learning more about this but im not gonna pay. some of those examples sounded pretty cool though.

[bobsguitars09]

I am interested to hear more feedback about this program also.


any details?

[ksjazzguitar]

Yeah, I can't find the file, but it just sounds like chromatic sequences. We do diatonic sequences all the time, but the chromatic ones will lead you outside naturally. Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Bartok, even Copeland - it is a common technique to get outside. It is one of many.

Really your just taking the relationship of the melody and the harmony out of the picture and focussing on the relationship of the melody to itself. Using the same exact intervals creates a strong coherence in the melody that makes the ear think that it sounds OK even though it is clashing with the harmony.

I think that an approach like this needs a few things. You need to know how to play very inside the harmony. In application, you need to start very inside, step outside with absolute confidence and stong melodic content, and then (and this is very important) you need to have it lead you back to playing inside. As you get better, you can be a little more loose about the procedure, but this will get you going.

But too many people try to play outside before they can play inside. It just ends up sounding like they don't know what their doing, IMHO.

Peace,
Kevin

[bobsguitars09]

Thank you!

[fep]

Originally Posted by ksjazzguitar

Yeah, I can't find the file, but it just sounds like chromatic sequences.

Wow this is an old thread; I found a new link. It has musical samples... It's amazing that this instructor and these students are at a community college, PCC, $26 a unit. That must be an awfully good music composition program, being close to Hollywood probably helps attract high level instructors which attracts high level students.

Lyle (Spud) Murphy's Equal Interval System

[Spirit59]

It's like side-slipping - "sell" the listener with something the ear has no problem with, then play the same thing up a half-step - same (or very similar) rhythmic & melodic contour - voila - the listener will digest it without problem.