Re: [Harp-L] Why is C not named A?

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Rubin" <rubinmichael@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 2:39 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Why is C not named A?


It should be sufficient to explain that the name of the note "C" is 
arbitrary.  It may be that it came from "cantus", the name of a 2" organ 
pipe.  With his mind set, he will probably ask "Why was a 2" organ pipe 
called a cantus?"  And away you go, chasing your tail.

Refer your student to the entries for "Letter Notation" and "Pitch Names" in 
the Harvard Musical Dictionary.  He will find that "a system starting with 
the letter A for the tone c seems to have been employed chiefly in 
connection with certain instruments such as the monochord , or sets of 
bells" He will find that there are different names for the notes in 
different languages. If he needs a reason for the name "C", then he will 
also need separate reasons for "do" and "ut" in other languages.

Also have him look up the word "name" in the dictionary:  "A word or words 
by which an entity is distinguished from others."
Point out that names are arbitrary and need no reasons.  As long as there is 
general conensus for the thing to which a name refers, its history is 
irrelevant to the study of music.  Why  is a rock called a rock and the wind 
called the wind?  He can spend his life studying the origins of language but 
it is a diversion from the study of music.

>  So, why are the notes named as they are?  It seems that C should be named 
> A.  Then a major scale would be played when starting on A and not hitting 
> the white notes.  I transposed all my scales into this new system and it 
> works fine.  I could see no problems with it.

There is an infinite number of names you could give the notes (Sam, Pete, 
Bob etc.) without changing music theory. The only difficulty is that no one 
else would know what you were talking about!

>  My initial thought was that the Aeolian scale or natural minor scale was 
> the scale that was the most standard during the time when the notes were 
> named.  Anyway, what's the history?
>  I know this seems to have no harp content.  Pretty bad for my first day 
> back on list.  I maintain that all theory questions are inherently harp 
> content because knowing theory will inform your playing.

This is not a music theory question, it is a language question.

>  Also, please consider I am a harp teacher.  Teachers, what do you do with 
> students who make statements such as these?

1. Say "I don't know."
2. Refer them to sources such as "On the Sensations of Tone" by Helmholtz, 
Grove's Encyclopedia of Music, and The Harvard Dictionary of Music.
3. Say "if you find out, let me know".
4. Move on with the lesson.

Vern