Natural Harmonic Music is music that uses the Natural Harmonic and Subharmonic Series as it's scale material. It is a form of Just Intonation
Associates, Volunteers, Instrument builders, Ensemble members and more
This section includes Ivor Darreg's writings, scores, instruments, letters and more.
This is the official site of World Harmony Project Inc, a nonprofit organization devoted to Education about and the Promotion of Natural Harmonic Music and related performing arts.
Here you will find the music and writings of four 20th century composers whose lives were dedicated to the Evolution and Expansion of Tonal Harmony through the use of the Natural Harmonic Series as a musical scale: Denny Genovese, Ralph David Hill, Jules Siegel and Norman Henry. We plan to add more composers and musicians devoted to this purpose in the future.
There are pages devoted to more composers who used Just Intonation and Xenharmonics as well, including an extensive section devoted to Ivor Darreg.
You may also find here Music Videos of Live Performances of Denny Genovese's Exotic Music Ensemble in the 1990's, as well as Photos, Descriptions and Sound Samples of the Musical Instruments built by Denny Genovese and others for playing Natural Harmonic Music.
Natural Harmonic Music
Natural harmonic music is distinguished from other types of music by it's profound Resonance, which makes chords blend better while also expanding the tonal materials that can be used for creating melodies and harmonies with additional flavors or moods that are not otherwise possible. This is due to the additional pitches made available by basing the scale on the infinitely expandable Natural Harmonic Series and its mirror image, the Subharmonic Series.
Here is a short, partial History of Natural Harmonic Music
For an in-depth treatment of the history, theory and practical application of Natural Harmonic Music see:
THE NATURAL HARMONIC SERIES AS A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO JUST INTONATION by Denny Genovese
and
THE RESTORATION OF HARMONY by Jules Siegel
Custom Musical Instruments and Software
Three of our featured composers wrote custom software and constructed custom synthesizers in order to produce their Electronic Music in the Natural Harmonic Scale system.
Norman Henry built a Harpsichord and a piano, each with keyboards in the form of Harry Partch's Tonality Diamond.
Denny Genovese also produced a set of Custom Acoustic Instruments specialy designed and built for Natural Harmonic Music, so that the music could be performed Live. These unique Acoustic Instruments and customized Electronic Instruments made possible the establishment of the Southeast Just Intonation Center, the Exotic Music Ensemble and a Seven Year series of Performances in Gainesville, Florida, some of which have been recorded on Video.
Several other custom instruments and their makers are featured here.