Just intonation subgroup: Difference between revisions

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A '''just intonation subgroup''' is a {{w|Free abelian group|group}} generated by a finite set of positive rational numbers via arbitrary multiplications and divisions. Using subgroups implies a way to organize [[just intonation]] intervals such that they form a lattice. Therefore it is closely related to [[regular temperament theory]].  

Just intonation subgroups can be described by listing their [[generator]]s with dots between them. In standard mathematical notation, if ''p''₁, ..., ''p''_''r'' are distinct primes, and ''a''_''k'' the musical interval of log₂(''p''_''k'') octaves, then

<math>p_1.p_2.\cdots.p_r := \operatorname{span}_\mathbb{Z} \{a_1, ..., a_k\}.</math>

 

 

* Prime subgroups (e.g. 2.3.7) contain only primes

* Composite subgroups (e.g. 2.5.9) contain composite numbers and perhaps prime numbers too

* Fractional subgroups (e.g. 2.3.7/5) contain fractional numbers and perhaps prime and/or composite numbers too

A prime subgroup that does not omit any primes < ''p'' (e.g. 2.3.5, 2.3.5.7, 2.3.5.7.11, etc. but not 2.3.7 or 3.5.7) is simply called [[Harmonic limit|''p''-limit JI]]. It is customary of just intonation subgroups to refer only to prime subgroups that do omit such primes, as well as the other two categories.

The following terminology has been proposed for streamlining pedagogy: Given a subgroup written as generated by a fixed (non-redundant) set: ''a''.''b''.''c''.[…].''d'', call any member of this set a '''basis element''', '''structural prime''', or '''formal prime'''.<ref>The meaning of "formal" this term is using is "of external form or structure, rather than nature or content", which is to say that a formal prime is not necessarily ''actually'' a prime, but we treat them as if they were. The original coiner of this term, [[Inthar]], has recommended its disuse, in favor of the mathematically accurate and generic "basis element", or possibly something else which indicates the co-uniqueness of the elements.</ref> For example, if the group is written 2.5/3.7/3, the basis elements are 2, 5/3 and 7/3.

A canonical naming system for just intonation subgroups is to give a [[Normal lists #Normal interval list|normal interval list]] for the generators of the group, which will also show the [[Wikipedia: Rank of an abelian group|rank]] of the group by the number of generators in the list (the [[Hermite normal form]] should be used here, not the [[canonical form]], because in the case of subgroups, [[enfactoring]] is sometimes desirable, such as in the subgroup 2.9.7 which should not be reduced to 2.3.7 by subgroup canonicalization). Below we give some of the more interesting subgroup systems. If a scale is given with the system, it means the subgroup is generated by the notes of the scale.  

Non-JI intervals can also be used as basis elements, when the subgroup in question contains non-JI intervals. For example, 2.sqrt(3/2) (sometimes written 2.2ed3/2) is the group generated by 2/1 and 350.978 cents, the square root of 3/2 (a neutral third which is exactly one half of 3/2). This is closely related to the [[3L 4s]] mos tuning with neutral third generator sqrt(3/2).

* ''Terrain temperament'' subgroup, see [[Chromatic pairs #Terrain]]

* The [[Chromatic pairs#Radon|Radon temperament]] subgroup, generated by the Ptolemy Intense Chromatic [22/21, 8/7, 4/3, 3/2, 11/7, 12/7, 2/1]

* The [[Chromatic_pairs#Indium|Indium temperament]] subgroup.

* The [[Chromatic pairs#Cata|Cata]], [[The Archipelago#Trinidad|Trinidad]] and [[The Archipelago#Parizekmic|Parizekmic]] temperaments subgroup.

* The [[Chromatic_pairs#Huntington|Huntington temperament]] subgroup.

* The [[Chromatic_pairs#Roulette|Roulette temperament]] subgroup

* The [[Chromatic pairs#Bridgetown|Bridgetown temperament]] subgroup.

* The [[Chromatic pairs#Pepperoni|Pepperoni temperament]] subgroup.

* The [[Chromatic pairs#Tridec|Tridec temperament]] subgroup.

* [[Subgroup basis matrices]] – a formal discussion on matrix representations of subgroup bases