Definitions of tuning terms
© 1998 by Joseph L. Monzo
All definitions by Joe Monzo unless otherwise cited
hexachord
If the pyknon of the
lower tetrachord (Hypaton)
is split into two microtones
while the upper
(Meson) one is undivided,
a plausible form of the hexachord is
produced.
This process works similarly for the
Chromatic and the
Diatonic genera assuming
that they both were derived from pentatonic
precursors of the whole tone and minor third variety. This definition
of hexachord is not the same as the one of the medieval theorist Guido
D'Arrezzo. (see below)
[from John Chalmers, Divisions of the Tetrachord]
In the system constructed by Guido, hexachords were
possible on three pitch-levels, with "ut" on what
we would today call "C" (the "natural" hexachord),
"F" (the "soft" hexachord), and "G" (the "hard"
hexachord). This corresponds to a moveable "ut"
centered on the "natural-ut", "natural-fa", and
"natural-sol", as follows:
Notes were generally named by using all applicable
syllables, i.e., "G" sol-re-ut.
I have deliberately left letter-names out of
this diagram, to give a sense of the difficulty
encountered by ancient and medieval theorists
in discussing musical pitches without the use of mathematics or
alphabetical ordering.
[from JoeMonzo, JustMusic: A New Harmony]
ut re mi fa sol la
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Tone Tone Semitone Tone Tone
ut re mi fa sol la
ut re mi fa sol la
ut re mi fa sol la
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