Intonalism: Difference between revisions

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'''Intonalism''' is an approach to musical tuning which combines elements of [[temperament]] and [[just intonation]]. It is somewhat similar to [[Adaptive just intonation|adaptive JI]].
'''Intonalism''' is an approach to musical structure in which harmonic areas move according to a complete universe based on [[just intonation]]. Each tonal area is tuned to all other tonal areas by means of pure intervals.  


In intonalism, a tempered scale (often [[12edo]]) is used for the lead melody of a piece. The current melody note at any given point in time is then treated as a reference pitch, and the current backing chord uses pure just intonation, tuned relative to the current reference pitch.
Intonalism was developed by [[William Copper]] over the period from 2009 - 2016; during this development then-active members of the various Facebook xen harmony pages contributed ideas and suggestions. In Copper's usage, all tonal areas relate to each other using [[5-limit]] just intonation but there is no reason that more extended tonal relations could not be based on higher limit pure intervals.  


Intonalism was described as the "[[7th Level of Jazz Harmony]]" by music educator Adam Neely.
In 2020 music educator Adam Neely picked up the term and used it in his Seven Levels of Jazz Harmony, with a somewhat different and rather ambiguous intent, where he seemed to describe the use of a tempered scale (often [[12edo]]) for the lead melody of a piece. The current melody note at any given point in time is then treated as a reference pitch, and the current backing chord uses pure just intonation, tuned relative to the current reference pitch. In a sense this is an inverse form of [[adaptive just intonation]] where the bass line adjusts to a tempered scale and the melody and harmony notes tune to it.  
 
The term ''intonalism'' is used by [[William Copper]] in a different meaning; he defines it as "the science of structuring music according to intonation", where intonation is mostly restricted to [[5-limit]] just intonation.


[[Category:Just intonation]]
[[Category:Just intonation]]
[[Category:Intonalism]]
[[Category:Intonalism]]

Revision as of 17:10, 5 August 2023

Intonalism is an approach to musical structure in which harmonic areas move according to a complete universe based on just intonation. Each tonal area is tuned to all other tonal areas by means of pure intervals.

Intonalism was developed by William Copper over the period from 2009 - 2016; during this development then-active members of the various Facebook xen harmony pages contributed ideas and suggestions. In Copper's usage, all tonal areas relate to each other using 5-limit just intonation but there is no reason that more extended tonal relations could not be based on higher limit pure intervals.

In 2020 music educator Adam Neely picked up the term and used it in his Seven Levels of Jazz Harmony, with a somewhat different and rather ambiguous intent, where he seemed to describe the use of a tempered scale (often 12edo) for the lead melody of a piece. The current melody note at any given point in time is then treated as a reference pitch, and the current backing chord uses pure just intonation, tuned relative to the current reference pitch. In a sense this is an inverse form of adaptive just intonation where the bass line adjusts to a tempered scale and the melody and harmony notes tune to it.