Subject: Re: The climb of absolute pitch From: Al Bregman <al.bregman@xxxxxxxx> Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:58:13 -0600 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>--bcaec550b3c4eb4a6904cfb29bd9 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Pierre, It's possible that this change happens to many people, not just those with absolute pitch. However, those without absolute pitch wouldn't notice it -- as long as pitch relations (the sizes of pitch intervals) were preserved -- especially if the change occurred slowly. As for a physiological mechanism, it might be analogous to whatever explains diplacusis. By the way, in the case of diplacusis, is it possible to say which ear is yielding the "correct" pitch? Is there such a thing as a "correct" pitch? Is your changed pitch experience less accurate or more accurate than it was before? Best, Al ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= -- Albert S. Bregman, Emeritus Professor Psychology Department, McGill University Phone: (514) three-nine-eight-6103, http://webpages.mcgill.ca/staff/Group2/abregm1/web/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= -- On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 1:10 PM, Pierre Divenyi <pdivenyi@xxxxxxxx= u > wrote: > Hi, > > Several older persons who have had absolute pitch in their young years > experience perceiving a pitch by at least a half-tone (minor second) high= er > than what it actually is =E2=80=94 a phenomenon that the French calls the= "climb of > the tuning fork" ("montee du diapason"). Since I am one of those > unfortunate individuals, I have been wondering what its physiological > explanation is. Can anyone on the list offer one? > > -Pierre Divenyi > --bcaec550b3c4eb4a6904cfb29bd9 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Pierre,<br><br>It's possible that this change happens to many people= , not just those with absolute pitch.=C2=A0 However, those without absolute= pitch wouldn't notice it -- as long as pitch relations (the sizes of p= itch intervals) were preserved -- especially if the change occurred slowly.= <br> <br>As for a physiological mechanism, it might be analogous to whatever exp= lains diplacusis.=C2=A0 By the way, in the case of diplacusis, is it possib= le to say which ear is yielding the "correct" pitch?=C2=A0 Is the= re such a thing as a "correct" pitch?=C2=A0 Is your changed pitch= experience less accurate or more accurate than it was before?<br> <br>Best,<br>Al<br clear=3D"all">------------------------------------------= -----------------------------------<br>Albert S. Bregman, Emeritus Professo= r<br>Psychology Department, McGill University<br>Phone: (514) three-nine-ei= ght-6103, <br> <a href=3D"http://webpages.mcgill.ca/staff/Group2/abregm1/web/" target=3D"_= blank">http://webpages.mcgill.ca/staff/Group2/abregm1/web/</a><br>---------= --------------------------------------------------------------------<br> <br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 1:10 PM, Pierre = Divenyi <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:pdivenyi@xxxxxxxx= " target=3D"_blank">pdivenyi@xxxxxxxx</a>></span> wrote:<br><b= lockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px = #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"> <div style=3D"font-size:14px;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;word-wrap:break= -word"><div>Hi,</div><div><br></div><div>Several older persons who have had= absolute pitch in their young years experience perceiving a pitch by at le= ast a half-tone (minor second) higher than what it actually is =E2=80=94 a = phenomenon that the French calls the "climb of the tuning fork" (= "montee du diapason"). Since I am one of those unfortunate indivi= duals, I have been wondering what its physiological explanation is. Can any= one on the list offer one?</div> <span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><div><br></div><div>-Pierre = Divenyi</div></font></span></div> </blockquote></div><br> --bcaec550b3c4eb4a6904cfb29bd9--