The musical status quo that has endured several hundred years is now being challenged. New instruments permit scales and tunings not practical on the piano. These will seem strange at first. One needs a term sufficiently general and inclusive, which does not beg the question, imply too much, nor commit anyone in advance.
Recent publications show a decided change in attitude toward musical trends.
You may have read our 1963 Special Bulletin. 1963 wasn't quite time for it, though there were many scattered stirrings of interest. 1965 showed more signs of the turning-point being at hand. For instance, the compositions and instruments of Harry Partch, conceived in an unequally-spaced untempered scale, are finally getting deserved attention after many years of fanatic, irrational prejudice against them. Recent advances in techniques for using computers and similar machines now make it possible to compose at a typewriter keyboard with ordinary numerals and letters of the alphabet.