2016microtonally Extended Just Intonation1
2016microtonally Extended Just Intonation1
by Marc Sabat
February 2016
Just Intonation
Tonal sounds are any sounds that we hear as “pitches”; for example, a human
voice speaking or singing vowels. Most tonal sounds are aggregates of partials,
combining many whole-number-multiples of a fundamental vibrating frequency
into a single timbre. In the special case of a sinewave, only one frequency is
sounding.
Some tonal sounds, like those produced by a piano, include partials which
deviate from an ideal series of harmonics. However, even so-called inharmonic
mixtures, like multiphonics or gong-like sounds in which several fundamentals
are perceived, may be usefully analysed as a superposition of intervals defined
as ratios.
Every new timbre suggests new harmonic constellations, but timbre and
harmony should not be mistaken for each other; harmony is the more general
musical principle. Timbre describes the composition, perceived qualities and
morphology of a specific sound. Harmony describes a world of potentially
perceivable relationships binding together the interaction of tonal sounds. By
changing or inflecting timbre, intensity, balance, register, etc. music highlights
or reveals different aspects of the harmonic relationship unfolding in time.
Tuneable intervals: periodicity, potential consonances and sruti regions
Multiple ratios are the proportions of each partial to the fundamental, and
represent a sequence of the natural harmonic intervals of progressively
increasing melodic distance: octave (1:2), perfect fifth +1 octave (1:3), major
third +2 octaves (1:5), septimal minor seventh +2 octaves (1:7), ninth +3
octaves (1:9), etc.
Note that the even number multiple ratios are simply transpositions by an
octave. 1:4 is one 1:2 +1 octave, and 1:6 is 1:3 +1 octave, etc. Extending this
idea, any multiple ratio defined by a composite number can be seen as a
combination of intervals defined by prime numbers. For example, the prime
proportion 1:3 (perfect fifth +1 octave) applied twice yields the composite
proportion 1:9 (2 perfect fifths +2 octaves). Therefore, prime number multiple
ratios define unique characteristic intervals which are the fundamental building
blocks of all other intervals.
2 defines the octave 1:2. An octave taken upward is a frequency proportion 1:2,
and an octave taken downward is a frequency proportion 2:1. In a similar way,
any proportion of frequencies can be taken as an interval upward (increasing
frequency) or inverted to mean the interval downward (decreasing frequency).
Each succesive prime 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, etc. defines a
characteristic interval. Just as the number 5 cannot be broken down as
product of smaller numbers, its characteristic interval, the major third, cannot
be produced by repeating and combining other intervals.
When the open strings of a cello and violin are tuned, the characteristic
intervals 1:3 and 2:1 are used. Beginning from the cello C string, the violin
tunes its G string in proportion 1:3, by matching the C string’s 3rd partial. The
cello tunes its G string in proportion 2:1, by matching the 2nd partial to the
open violin string. This process is repeated three more times to obtain the
violin E string. 1:3 is produced four times, and 2:1 occurs three times.
Therefore cello C and violin E are in the interval proportion 23:34 = 8:81.
The harmonic series major third +2 octaves taken directly from cello C would
be produced by the interval proportion 1:5. Raised by 1:2 to match the register
of the violin E we obtain 1:10, or 8:80. The difference between the natural
harmonic E and the open E produced by fifths is one Syntonic Comma, 80:81.
Imagine the ratio a:b expressed in lowest terms. This can describe the
relationship of two frequencies, their interval, in terms of a shared harmonic
series. When the two frequencies sound together, their virtual fundamental, the
common periodicity of their shared vibration, is represented as the
fundamental of this harmonic series, 1:a:b. To tune the interval by attending to
the least common partial and creating a unison, we are listening for the b-th
partial of a and the a-th partial of b. Algebraically, this can be represented as
the product ab, considered in our harmonic series, 1:a:b:ab.
The closer the melodic distance between fundamental and least common
partial, the more easily the original interval can be tuned. Therefore, the ratio
1:ab, or simply the numerical value ab, determines the harmonic distance of the
interval, an idea originally proposed by the Renaissance theorist Giambattista
Benedetti in a letter (ca. 1563) to Cipriano de Rore. The harmonic distance
measure most consistently reflects the experience of tuning intervals when they
are not too low; preferably in the register of the human singing voice, high
enough so that their common fundamentals are in the audio range.
The ratio a:b also implies a particular family of combination tones, most
prominently the difference tones |a – b|, |2a – b|, |a – 2b| and the
summation tone |a + b|. When working directly with frequencies, these can
also be calculated as the sums and differences between the frequencies and
their respective partials. In the case of a simple harmonic ratio, the effect of
the difference tone is pronouncedly strengthened as the combination tones
harmonically reinforce to produce a harmonic series.
1200log2(b/a) or 1200log(b/a)/log2
Notation
In addition to the microtonal signs which imply ratio intervals, each written
pitch may still be read in terms of the chromatic system, and an appropriate
alteration of the nearest tempered pitch in cents, as indicated by a tuning
device, may also be notated. This allows musicians to rehearse the microtonal
pitches outside of an ensemble setting.
Tuneable Aggregates
Third, to observe that each written pitch may be related to many other pitches
by natural intervals, and to tune it accordingly.
In most cases, this approach will allow the player to quickly and intuitively play
just intonation (JI) pitches quite accurately. Any remaining adjustments can be
made by ear, based on the specific sound of JI intervals.
Just intervals are readily learned because they are built up from simple,
tuneable harmonic relationships. These are generally based on eliminating
beating between common partials, finding common fundamentals and audible
combination tones, and establishing a resonant, stable sonority which
maximizes clarity: both of consonance and of dissonance.
To become familiar with the notation and sounds of JI, the fundamental
building blocks are prime number overtones 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13, each of which
is associated with a specific pair of accidentals and a basic musical interval.
3 is associated with the signs flat, natural, sharp and refers to the series of
untempered perfect fifths (Pythagorean intonation). Generally, A is taken as the
tuning reference, and the central pitches C-G-D-A-E can be imagined as the
normal tuning of the orchestral string instruments. The just C is rather lower
than tempered tuning because of the pure fifths. The further this series is
extended, the greater the deviation from tempered tuning: the flats are lower,
the sharps higher.
5 is associated with arrows attached to the flat, natural, sharp signs and refers
to the pure major third. These arrows correct the Pythagorean intervals by a
Syntonic Comma, which is approximately 1/9 of a wholetone or 22 cents. So,
for example, the note E-flat arrow-up is a just major third below G, and the note
F-sharp arrow-down is a major third above D. In most music, flats are often
raised by a comma and sharps are lowered. Because of the open string tuning,
it is common to sometimes raise F and C (to match A and E) and to sometimes
lower A and E (to match F and C). Corrections by one Syntonic Comma have
been used throughout Western music history and are relatively familiar to the
ear. However, traditionally these corrections have been hidden by players, for
example in Meantone Temperament where fifths are mistuned narrow by !
comma so that the third C-E ends up sounding pure. More recently, the
currently prevailing Equal Temperament has made us accustomed to beating
thirds, so at first the pure intervals may seem unfamiliar. To play the arrows
accurately, one must carefully learn the sound of the consonant major and
minor thirds and sixths, and learn to articulate comma differences clearly.
11 is associated with the quartertone signs (cross and backwards flat). The
accidental is used to raise the perfect fourth by 53 cents, producing the exact
tuning of the 11th partial in a harmonic series. The sound is most easily
learned by playing one octave plus one fourth and raising it by a quartertone.
13 is associated with the thirdtone signs (cross and backwards flat, each with
2 verticals). The accidental is used to lower the Pythagorean major sixth by 65
cents, producing the exact tuning of the 13th partial in a harmonic series. The
sound is most easily learned as a neutral-sounding sixth, one-third of the way
between the just minor and just major sixths (closer to minor than to major).
The following table presents the accidentals together with their associated
ratios and cents deviations. To calculate the cents deviation from Equal
Temperament of a specific written pitch (if desired) the following shortcut may
be used:
1.) Find the cents deviation of the Pythagorean pitch, by calculating how many
fifths it is away from A, multiplying by 2, and using a plus sign if it is on the
sharp side and a minus if it is on the flat side.
2.) For each microtonal accidental, add or subtract its approximate cents value
(as given above), keeping in mind whether the accidental is raising or lowering
the pitch.
In addition to the harmonic definition of a pitch by means of its accidentals, it is also possible to indicate its
absolute pitch-height as a cents-deviation from the respectively indicated chromatic pitch in the 12-tone system
of Equal Temperament.
The attached arrows for alteration by a syntonic comma are transcriptions of the notation that Hermann von
Helmholtz used in his book “Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen als physiologische Grundlage für die
Theorie der Musik” (1863). The annotated English translation “On the Sensations of Tone as a Physiological
Basis for the Theory of Music” (1875/1885) is by Alexander J. Ellis, who refined the definition of pitch within
the 12-tone system of Equal Temperament by introducing a division of the octave into 1200 cents. The sign for a
septimal comma was devised by Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770) – the composer, violinist and researcher who
first studied the production of difference tones by means of double stops.
23-LIMIT TUNEABLE INTERVALS below “A4”
tested and notated in three gradations of difficulty (large open notehead = easiest ; small black notehead = most difficult)
by Marc Sabat (violin/viola) with assistance from Wolfgang von Schweinitz (cello), Beltane Ruiz (bass), Anaïs Chen (violin)—Berlin, 2005
1/8 3/23 2/15 3/22 1/7 4/27 3/20 2/13 3/19 4/25
?
% % % e % % e
‹
0 +12 +31 +16 C# -41 +4 +27
j w 6e f 5 > w n o 9w *v g
-26 -49 -6
1/6 4/23 3/17 5/28 2/11 3/16 4/21 5/26 1/5 5/24
? E E E E w E
+14
w w
‹
w w o u
+17 +2 +29 +46
n 6e ;u >u 5 n > 9m
E
4/19 5/23 5/22 4/17 5/21 6/25
E E w E w E e
+29
? w g
G# -39
6m n 5u 9 ;u >u
‹
+2 +33 +16
*v >v ?
-42 -4 G +35 -5
?
e e E e
+12 +31
?
E e e e e e
+16 C# -41 +4 +27 +35
;t n o w 9 w u w *v 5< g >v
-19 -6 -14 -82
E
8/23 7/20 6/17 5/13 7/18
? w E E E w w w E <
+17 +2 +46
n 6e <f ;u >u 5 n 9m
? w E w e w w E E n w
+14 G# -39
n 5u 9
+2 +33
o ;<u u *v >v
e e E E E w E
+16
w w
+12 +28 C# -41
6e f 9<e 5 m > < o 9
?
+31
E e
5/8 2/3 5/7
E e e
7/11 9/14 11/16 9/13 7/10 8/11
w e w <f w 5
D# -49 D# -37 +17
u 5< >v n 4 9 >u
+35
? -17 -51
-14 Db +18 -2
E
10/13 9/11 7/8
E w w e w w n w
+14
w <
+33
< o 5v u >v
+2 +46
n 9m
? -35 -47 -16
-31
23-LIMIT TUNEABLE INTERVALS above “A3”
notated using the Extended Helmholtz-Ellis JI Pitch Notation with cents deviations from 12-tone equal temperament based on A = 0 cents
microtonal accidentals designed by Marc Sabat and Wolfgang von Schweinitz, 2004
e E
+31 +16 +47 +35
E
& w
L w > < w o w 4 u w >v w 0o n
-33 -14 -46 -2
e E e e e E
D# -49 +17 +2 F -18 +14
E E E E e e
+33 +18 +49 +26
E E e E
+16 +36
w w w
B -35
w
+4
E E w w w E E E w
+35 D# -49 +3 +17 +28 +2
0o n 4 <f :f >u 3v n
>v
&
-46 -2 -17
e e e e e E
+14 +19
w w w :g
+6
< / o 0v u v
F -18
t 4>
&
-35 -27 -4 F +41 -16
E
24/7 19/5 23/6 27/7
e e e w
+11
w w w w
+18
/f n
+49 +26 +37
< o 4 u 3v >v
+33
>v
& -31 -12
E
25/6 21/5 17/4 22/5 23/5 19/4
e e E w e w E w
+5 B -35 +42
< /
+4
t <f :f 0 4f n 3o
E
24/5 26/5 21/4 28/5 23/4
E e E w w w E w
+16
w
+3 +28
<f :f n
D# -49 +2
o u 0o < n 4 3v
-17
e
25/4 27/4
E w w w w w w w n w
+49 +26
< 4 u 3v
+6
t / 0v u v
&
-27 -4 F +41 -16 -31 -12