Re: falling minor thirds

[Terry Olesen <oles@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I also would like to know of other propensities for people to sing, speak
or chant in certain ranges, especially if they are from distant cultures
and cultures not tapping into radio/t.v./audiotape media networks. (I
can't think of many sports fans even in US cities somehow learning and
practicing chants from fans in other US cities, unless they are ditties
from beer commericals or other media influences that are broadcast during
sporting events.) (Or its it likely that fans take flights/rides from city
to city and influence the chants.  I think not.)

The discussion indicates to date a perception among some researchers on
this listserv that certain patterns may predominate for unknown reasons.
This interests me and I am sure others.  And, I dont' believe the
statistical discussion can account for the empirical claim of these
patterns occurring. (I'd like to read/have cited some solid evidence of
these patterns, please. Sorry if these were cited, can we see them cited
again?)

On Fri, 8 Sep 1995, R. Parncutt wrote:

> I am forwarding the following request on behalf of Jay Rahn
> <RELATION@VM1.YorkU.CA>:
>
> >Are there studies providing Hz or cents quantifications of "intervals" in
> >speech intonation (incl., possibly, tone languages)? and specifically, have
> >any of these revealed a propensity for descents of ca. 300 cents within or
> >between individual syllables?
>
> This issue is related to all that sports chanting business that was bouncing
> around a while back. But it has broader musical implications -- for example,
> children's songs from around the world seem to include lots of falling minor
> thirds.
>
> Richard Parncutt
>
> Dept of Psychology, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
> E-mail: r.parncutt@keele.ac.uk
> Tel: 01782 583392; Tel/fax: + 44 1782 583387
>