Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 86 views

    Spiral Fifths Tuning

    Uploaded by

    sfhelio
    Spiral fifths tuning approximates equal temperament by having the fifth intervals alternate between a leimma of 90 cents and an apotome of 114 cents. This creates a slight variability between the intervals that is barely noticeable to the ear but requires attention from professional string players. By representing the octave as a straight line, it becomes clear why stopping short of the 13th pitch class helps create a desirable compromise, as the first and last tones would otherwise lie too close together. These coincidences provide the basis for a new science of quantification by connecting physics and metaphysics through the concept of octave identity.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Spiral Fifths Tuning

    Uploaded by

    sfhelio
    86 views1 page
    Spiral fifths tuning approximates equal temperament by having the fifth intervals alternate between a leimma of 90 cents and an apotome of 114 cents. This creates a slight variability between the intervals that is barely noticeable to the ear but requires attention from professional string players. By representing the octave as a straight line, it becomes clear why stopping short of the 13th pitch class helps create a desirable compromise, as the first and last tones would otherwise lie too close together. These coincidences provide the basis for a new science of quantification by connecting physics and metaphysics through the concept of octave identity.

    Original Description:

    Spiral Fifths

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Spiral fifths tuning approximates equal temperament by having the fifth intervals alternate between a leimma of 90 cents and an apotome of 114 cents. This creates a slight variability between the intervals that is barely noticeable to the ear but requires attention from professional string players. By representing the octave as a straight line, it becomes clear why stopping short of the 13th pitch class helps create a desirable compromise, as the first and last tones would otherwise lie too close together. These coincidences provide the basis for a new science of quantification by connecting physics and metaphysics through the concept of octave identity.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    86 views1 page

    Spiral Fifths Tuning

    Uploaded by

    sfhelio
    Spiral fifths tuning approximates equal temperament by having the fifth intervals alternate between a leimma of 90 cents and an apotome of 114 cents. This creates a slight variability between the intervals that is barely noticeable to the ear but requires attention from professional string players. By representing the octave as a straight line, it becomes clear why stopping short of the 13th pitch class helps create a desirable compromise, as the first and last tones would otherwise lie too close together. These coincidences provide the basis for a new science of quantification by connecting physics and metaphysics through the concept of octave identity.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 1

    SpiralFifthsTuningErnestG.

    McClainApril22,2008

    Nature(God?)offersmankindtheratioof2:3asalmostpreciselythetwelfthrootof2.Averyslight
    cyclicexcessin2:3producesanoverlapofacommaaftertwelveintervals(i.e.,onthe13
    th
    pitchclass).
    (Thereisnothingprivatebutthebody,meaningthenumberitselfasapointofnodimensions.)A
    correspondingcomplementarydefectin3:4producesthe
    identicaldefect(gap)ofacomma.Inmodernlogarithmiccents
    values,100perequaltemperedsemitone,thefifthof2:3is702
    centsandthefourthof3:4is498.Theratioof1730:1731=
    1.0005755approximatesonecent.(EllisinHelmholtz,Onthe
    SensationofTone,p.453.)Theresultantsemitonesarenot
    equalbutalternatebetweentheleimmaof90centsandapotome
    of114cents,displayedhereinacomputerprintout.The
    differencebetweenthemisbarelyapparenttoearandeyebut
    requirescarefulattentionfromstringinstrumentplayersata
    professionallevelofperformance.

    WhenthemodeloctaveisrepresentedasastraightlinetoourGod(2:1)weseethisvariabilityin
    anotherwaythathelpstounderstandwhysuppressingthecommainthemiddle(bystoppingshortof
    0
    200
    400
    600
    800
    1000
    1200
    1400
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
    Spiral Fifths tuning naturally approximates Equal Temperament.
    Series1

    the13thpitchclass)ishighlydesirable:thefirstandthirteenthtonesliesoclosetogetherthatacompromiseis
    encouragedhereinthemiddlesurroundingthesquarerootof2atsixoclock(600cents.)Theseremarkable
    coincidencesgroundanewscienceofquantification.Thecosmicoctavecycle(circle)istwelvenotbe
    computationbutbyculturalassumptionasagiftfromHeaven,andthegodsenjoymantlesofradiancein
    definingthescale.Physicsandmetaphysicsarebestfriends.Therubric,asAbove,soBelowisliterallytrueas
    octaveidentity,studiedfromthemiddle,fromthesquarerootof2:1.
    90
    114
    90
    114
    90
    90
    24
    90
    90
    114
    90
    114
    90

    You might also like