Sonantometry.: Ideas Concerning Tonal Functions of Higher Order Practice of Application These Tonal Functions As Sonants

Sonantometry.
In offered notes you'll find developing of ideas concerning tonal functions of higher order.
Is talking on practice of application these tonal functions as sonants to the analysis and
synthesis of music.
Sonantometry, or the algebra of tonal functions, updates and expands possibilities of the
functional analysis and synthesis of music. Example of my own experience in application
of a subject of article is available in the file: R. Wagner's Tristan opening. 7-limit 53EDO
approximation. Also the MIDI - model of this fragment sounding is given.
The following table can explain the essence of sonantometry:
5-limit Just Intonation Diatonic Scale
Grade
Frequency Ratio of Grade
and 1st Grade
No. Symbol Fraction
Factorization
8 VIII ~ I 2/1 ~ 1
21 ~ 1
7 VII< 15/8~15 51312-3 ~ 5131
6
VI<
5/3
513-120 ~ 513-
Tonal Function
Sonant
Name
Symbol Formulas by Order
Name
of Affinity to
Tonant
0 1
2
Tonic
T
:T
:Dd
Tonant and Dedant
Leading
:MD or :DM MeDent or DeMent
Submediant
:Md or :dM Medant or daMent
5
4
V
IV
3/2~3
4/3~1/3
3 2 ~ 31
3-122 ~ 3-1
Dominant
Subdominant
3
2
III<
II
5/4~5
9/8~9
512-2 ~ 51
322-3 ~ 32
Mediant
Double
Dominant
Tonic
1 I ~ VIII 1/1=1 ~
2/1
-1
20=1 ~ 21
D
S
:D
:d
M
:M
DD or
:2D or :DD
2D
T
:T
:dD
Dominant or Dent
Subdominant or
dant
Mediant or Ment
TwoDent or
DeDent
Tonant and daDent
This table shows relations among well-known 5-limit just intonation major diatonic scale,
also well-known tonal functions and those ones that are named here sonants and underlies
discipline named here sonantometry.
The comparison of grades VIII and I indicates matching by them of the same function T, or
tonic. In other words these grades are functionally equivalent, and it is possible to write
VIII ~ I and I ~ VIII. The frequency ratios of grades point thus, that 2 ~ 1 and all degrees of
a prime 2 in factorizations of frequency ratios of all grades it is possible to replace by 1 and
not to show. It is clear, that to tonic corresponds number 1, just to this number corresponds
the first entered here sonant :T (to pronounce [Te]) named Tonant. The sonant formula :T
has the zero order of affinity to Tonant, as this order is equal to a sum of absolute values of
exponents of odd prime bases in a factorization and for :T is equal 0.
A grades V and IV are matching the functions D and S, or dominant and subdominant. It is
easy to notice, that to the name 'dominant' corresponds number 31, and the prefix 'sub'
indicates only change of a sign of exponent of this number. In sonantometry it is fixed by

that anyone sonant :S assumes availability of own subsonant :s. Therefore the function
dominant corresponds to sonant :D (to pronounce [De]), with the name of Dominant or
Dent. Its subsonant :d (to pronounce [da]), with the name of subdominant or dant
corresponds to subdominant function. The formula :S in sonantometry designates anyone
possible sonant with its subsonant :s, and the subdominant function corresponds to
subsonant :d of the sonant :D. From a factorization it is clear, that Dent and dant has the
order of affinity to Tonant equal to 1.
In 5-limit just intonation major diatonic scale there is one more sonant of the order 1. It
corresponds to number 51 and mediant function that matches grade III<. The sign "<"
indicates flat pitch bend of a Pythagorean scale grade, and will be described further,
together with the sharp pitch bend sign ">". Sonant :M (to pronounce [Me]), with the name
Mediant or Ment, and its subsonant :m (to pronounce [ma]), with the name submediant or
mant are last of possible sonants of the order 1 in 5-limit just intonation major diatonic
scale. In considered diatonic scale there is no mant and submediant function is compared to
other sonant. However harmonic version of the 5-limit just intonation major diatonic scale
substitutes the grade VI< by the grade VIb> (8/5 ~ 5-1) and the correspondence of
submediant to mant is restored.
The existence of the function with the name double dominant helps to understand the
essence of complex sonants. These are all sonants of the order 2 and above. Similarly to a
double dominant, or dominant from dominant, anyone sonant of the order 2 exists as prime
sonant of the order 1 from adopted instead of Tonant other sonant, which prime to Tonant
by affinity. It is necessary to notice, that subsonant of the own sonant is equal to Tonant,
and the change of the places of prime sonants in the formulas of the complex ones does not
cause other sonant.
In given diatonic scale exist complex sonants :2D or :DD, :MD or :DM, :Dd or :dD, :Md or
:dM. Their names and correspondence to grades are reflected in a table. It is clear, that
diatonic scale envelops not all possible sonants of 5-limit and order of 2 just intonation.
The full set of these sonants is reflected in a table below.
5-limit and Order of 2 Just Intonation Scale
Grade
Frequency Ratio of Grade and 1st Formulas by Order of
Grade
Affinity to Tonant
No. Symbol
Fraction
Factorization
0 1
2
1
14 VIII ~ I
2/1 ~ 1
2 ~1
:T
:Dd and :Mm
1
1
-3
1
1
13
VII<
15/8 ~ 15
5 3 2 ~ 5 3
:MD or :DM
12 VIIb>
16/9 ~ 1/9
3-224 ~ 3-2
:2d or :dd
1
-1
0
1
-1
11
VI<
5/3
5 3 2 ~ 5 3
:Md or :dM
-1
3
-1
10
VIb>
8/5 ~ 1/5
5 2 ~ 5
:m
9
V#(
25/16 ~ 25
522-4 ~ 52
:2M or :MM
1
-1
1
8
V
3/2 ~ 3
3 2 ~ 3
:D
7
IV
4/3 ~ 1/3
3-122 ~ 3-1
:d
-2
5
-2
6
IVb)
32/25 ~ 1/25
5 2 ~ 5
:2m or :mm
Sonant
Name
Tonant and Dedant and Medant

MeDent or DeMent
Twodant or dadant
Medant or daMent
Submediant or mant
TwoMent or MeMent
Dominant or Dent
Subdominant or dant
Twomant or mamant
5
4
3
2
1
III<
IIIb>
II
IIb<
I ~ VIII
5/4 ~ 5
6/5
9/8 ~ 9
16/15 ~ 1/15
1/1=1 ~ 2/1
512-2 ~ 51
:M
-1
1
1
-1
1
5 3 2 ~ 5 3
:mD or :Dm
322-3 ~ 32
:2D or :DD
-1
-1
4
-1
-1
5 3 2 ~ 5 3
:md or :dm
0
1
2 =1 ~ 2
:T
:dD and :mM
Mediant or Ment
maDent or Demant
TwoDent or DeDent
madant or damant
Tonant and daDent and maMent
At the beginning of clearing up the essence of signs ">", "<", ")", "(", lets recollect, that
the scale of 5-limit just intonation can be expressed through a 3-limit just intonation scale.
The last one has a name of Pythagor, and to this day underlies the musical notation and
concept 'fifth spiral', that through tuning of the 12 equal divisions of the octave (12 EDO) is
degenerated in 'fifth circle'. In the Pythagorean scale, as 3-limit just intonation scale, we
shall find universal sonant :T, sonants :D and :d, which are prime to it, and also all complex
ones which it possible to combine from :T, :D and :d. Other sonants in this scale are
impossible.
In the following table the scale of 5-limit just intonation (sonants :T, :D, :d, :M, :m and
their combination) is expressed through interval sonants (intersonants) to Pythagorean
grades:
Pythagorean 3-limit and Order of 8 Just
Intonation Scale
Grade
Sonants by Order of Affinity to
Tonant
Symbol 0 1
14 VIII ~ I :T
13 VII
12 VIIb
11 VI
10
VIb
8
7
V
IV
III
IVb
IIIb
II
Grade
Sonants by
Order of
Affinity to
Tonant
Symbol 0 1
2
14 VIII ~ I :T
:5D
13
12
:2d
VII<
VIIb
:MD
:2d
:3D
V#
4
3
5-limit and Order of 2 Just Intonation Scale
11
VI<
:Md
10
VIb>
:m
9
8
7
6
V#(
V
IV
IVb)
:D
:d
Pitch Bend in Intersonants by Order

of Affinity to Pythagorean Scale
Grades.
5
:[5D =
:M4d[5D
:[3D =
:M4d[3D
:8D
:[4d =
:m4D[4d
:4d
:D
:d
:2[8D =
:2M8d[8D
:2M
:2m
:[4D =
:M4d[4D
:4D
5
III<
:M
IIIb>
:mD
II
:2D
:8d
:3d
:2D
10
:[3d =
:m4D[3d
:2[8d =
:2m8D[8d
2
2
IIb
1 I ~ VIII :T
IIb<
:md
:5d
:[5d =
:m4D[5d
1 I ~ VIII :T
How it is possible to notice, the scales exactly coincide in grades I, II, IV, V, VIIb. In other
grades we find a fifth order divergence with maFourDent or its inverse MeFourdant. The
grades IVb and V# with TwomaEightDent and its inverse TwoMeEightdant, both tenth
order. Here is given a simple rule to determine intersonant between any pair of sonants. It is
enough to write first sonant, to add to it all elements of the second, all elements of the
inverse of the second, and to factor out the elements of the second, as origin. The required
intersonant remains before a bracket.
:md = :md 5d 5D = :md5D[5d = :m4D[5d;
:mD = :mD 3d 3D = :mD3D[3d = :m4D[3d;
:M = :M 4D 4d = :M4d[4D;
:2m = :2m 8d 8D = 2m8D[8d;
:2M = :2M 8D 8d = 2M8d[8D;
:m = :m 4d 4D = :m4D[4d;
:Md = :Md 3D 3d = :Md3d[3D = :M4d[3D;
:MD = :MD 5D 5d = :MD5d[5D = :M4d[5D.
Restoring numerical values of the intersonant :m4D by the formula 5-1342Z, Z ={-n,,
0, n}, n N, N = {1, 2, 3,, n} gives a set of the octave equivalents of 81/80 fraction
and sharply bends a grade pitch on a comma of Didymus. Inverse sonant :M4d (the set of
the octave equivalents of 80/81 fraction) flatly bends a grade pitch on a comma of
Didymus. Therefore it is possible to name :m4D as Didiment, with designation :. Thus an
inversion we shall name didimant, and designate :.
The table shows, that ">" sharply bends a grade pitch on Didiment, and "<" flatly. Sign ")"
order TwoDidiment sharp, and "(" means Twodidimant flat.
Let's remark, if the note sonant include:
M, then arises "<" and the grade is flattened by the intersonant :;
2M, arises "(" and the grade is flattened by the intersonant :2;
m, arises ">" and the grade is sharpened by the intersonant :;
2m, arises ")" and the grade is sharpened by the intersonant :2.
In other words, in 5-limit just intonation, the pitch bend of a Pithagorean grade, arises only
at the notes containing M, or m. The size of bend, accordingly is exactly so many
intersonants : or :, how many M, or m are in the note make-up.
This observation gives the following, consisting of two phases, rule of placing of additional
accidentals for a writing notes of the 5-limit just intonation in scores of Pithagorean scale:
1. to appropriate to each note head proper to it sonant depending on a score context;
2. if in sonant are present M, 2M, 3M, to bend a pitch of the note accordingly by
:,:2,:3, and to designate these flattening accordingly by additional accidentals
"<", "(", "{". The presence m, 2m, 3m requires bends accordingly by :,:2,:3,
and designating of a sharping accordingly by additional accidentals ">", ")" and "}".

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Sonantometry.

indicates only change of a sign of exponent of this number. In sonantometry it is fixed by

Tonant and Dedant and Medant

5-limit and Order of 2 Just Intonation Scale

Pitch Bend in Intersonants by Order

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