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

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I wonder if it's too late to take up drums...

-tim


Siegfried Naruhn wrote:

Hi ABC,

on the first view the subject sounds like Vern´s idea to the
question < .. Why  is a rock called a rock and the wind called the 
wind? <,

However, the explanation that the C might be derived from the 
latin "cantus" 
(song, melody, music ect.) only sounds well but isn´t compelling 
either.

Here´s another idea. The German notation is: c d e f g a h, while 
the 
English substitutes h by B, so getting C D E F G A B. 

Now, when setting A B at the beginning the result is the correct 
alphabet
where the other 5 notes are already placed. 

This means that the alphabetical order of C is obvious and doesn´t 
necessarily
mean the first letter of "cantus". Why the letters A B got to the 
end leaving 
C
at the beginning I can´t explain either. 

But whatever or whoever has managed that, the question is then why 
the
English notation doesn´t read: C D E F G H I  ??  which would be the 
logical
consequence if the alphabet had been the basic idea. 

 Siegfried 
  



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