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Intervals

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amycatherine	Jun 12 2011, 08:05 PM Post #1
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 42 Joined: 16-October 08 From: Mirfield, West Yorkshire Member No.: 42274	I am teaching grade 5 theory and I think I have come across a slight issue in the way the ABRSM explain intervals. Can someone point me in the right direction please? They explain that the reason why the 4th, 5th and 8ve intervals are known as Perfect rather than major/minor is that it is the same interval in both the major and minor version of the scale. If this is the case, why isn't the interval of the 2nd treated the same way? The interval between middle C and the D above is a major second but as it is the same in both the C major and C minor scales, technically, it should be a Perfect second, making the semitone (C to D#) a diminished second rather than a minor second...otherwise, you can't actually get a diminished 2nd. Can anyone point out the error in my logic so I can teach it better...It is frustrating me trying to teach something when I disagree with something I am teaching!!! many thanks, Amy x

bourdon16	Jun 12 2011, 09:52 PM Post #2
Unregistered	Wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interval_%28m...ber_and_quality Perfect Perfect intervals are so-called because of their high levels of consonance, and because the inversion of a perfect interval is also perfect. Other kinds of intervals have an opposite quality with respect to their inversion. The inversion of a major interval is a minor interval, the inversion of an augmented interval is a diminished interval. I knew this but hadn't put 2 and 2 together until you made me look - thanks!

kenm	Jun 13 2011, 10:01 AM Post #3
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2785 Joined: 9-September 04 Member No.: 2075	QUOTE(bourdon16 @ Jun 12 2011, 10:52 PM) Perfect intervals are so-called because of their high levels of consonance, and because the inversion of a perfect interval is also perfect. I like both of those. The ABRSM book is just wrong, as Amycatherine implied (more politely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ).

Czerny	Jun 13 2011, 10:41 AM Post #4
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4079 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	QUOTE(kenm @ Jun 13 2011, 11:01 AM) QUOTE(bourdon16 @ Jun 12 2011, 10:52 PM) Perfect intervals are so-called because of their high levels of consonance, and because the inversion of a perfect interval is also perfect. I like both of those. The ABRSM book is just wrong, as Amycatherine implied (more politely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ). Doesn't that count as heresy? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

bourdon16	Jun 13 2011, 11:27 AM Post #5
Unregistered	QUOTE(kenm @ Jun 13 2011, 11:01 AM) QUOTE(bourdon16 @ Jun 12 2011, 10:52 PM) Perfect intervals are so-called because of their high levels of consonance, and because the inversion of a perfect interval is also perfect. I like both of those. The ABRSM book is just wrong, as Amycatherine implied (more politely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ). Where and how was I being impolite? I just answered a question. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Czerny	Jun 13 2011, 11:43 AM Post #6
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4079 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	QUOTE(bourdon16 @ Jun 13 2011, 12:27 PM) QUOTE(kenm @ Jun 13 2011, 11:01 AM) QUOTE(bourdon16 @ Jun 12 2011, 10:52 PM) Perfect intervals are so-called because of their high levels of consonance, and because the inversion of a perfect interval is also perfect. I like both of those. The ABRSM book is just wrong, as Amycatherine implied (more politely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ). Where and how was I being impolite? I just answered a question. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I think what kenm meant was that Amy expressed it more politely than simply saying it was wrong, as he (kenm) just did! Nothing to do with you, as I understood it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

bourdon16	Jun 13 2011, 01:28 PM Post #7
Unregistered	QUOTE(Czerny @ Jun 13 2011, 12:43 PM) Nothing to do with you, as I understood it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) Phew (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

kenm	Jun 14 2011, 06:57 AM Post #8
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2785 Joined: 9-September 04 Member No.: 2075	QUOTE(bourdon16 @ Jun 13 2011, 12:27 PM) Where and how was I being impolite? I just answered a question. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I meant more polite than me, as Czerny wrote. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

kenm	Jun 14 2011, 07:14 AM Post #9
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2785 Joined: 9-September 04 Member No.: 2075	QUOTE(Czerny @ Jun 13 2011, 11:41 AM) Doesn't that count as heresy? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Even Homer* nods, but the ABRSM sometimes changes its methods in line with suggestions for improvement. Of course, one can't tell if that is a result of the suggestions, but as far as I can judge they tolerate people who criticise their policy and methods on this forum. If they didn't, I would have been expelled long ago. * There were probably more than one of them. The Odyssey shows signs of female authorship, while the Iliad is brutally masculine.

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