User:Ganaram inukshuk/MOS scale: Difference between revisions

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{{User:Ganaram inukshuk/Template:Rewrite draft|MOS scale|compare=https://en.xen.wiki/w/Special:ComparePages?page1=MOS+scale&rev1=&page2=User%3AGanaram+inukshuk%2FMOS+scale&rev2=&action=&diffonly=&unhide=

|changes=general rewrites; definition; wrangle different ways to say "mos"

}}A '''moment-of-symmetry scale''' (~~commonly written~~ as '''MOS scale''', '''MOSS''', or '''MOS''', pronounced "em-oh-ess"; also spelled as '''mos''', pronounced "moss"; plural '''MOSes''' or '''mosses''') is a type of [[binary]], [[periodic scale]].

}}A '''moment-of-symmetry scale''' (abbreviated as '''MOS scale''', '''MOSS''', or '''MOS''', pronounced "em-oh-ess"; also spelled as '''mos''', pronounced "moss"; plural '''MOSes''' or '''mosses''') is a type of [[binary]], [[periodic scale]].

== Definition ==

=== Erv Wilson's original definition ===

The concept of MOS scales were invented by [[Erv Wilson]] in 1975 in his paper ''Moments of Symmetry'', where, given an [[edo]] of ''n'' equal divisions, a generator of ''g'' edosteps can be stacked repeatedly to divide the octave.

=== Current ~~definition~~ ===

=== Current and equivalent definitions ===

== Naming ==

== Notation ==

A moment-of-symmetry scale of ''x'' large steps and ''y'' small steps, where ''x'' and ''y'' are whole numbers, is denoted using the [[scale signature]] ''x''L ''y''s. In cases where the exact sizes are not specified (that is, there is no distinction as to which step is large or small, the notation ''x''A ''y''B can be used instead, which can either refer to ''x''L ''y''s or ''y''L ''x''s.

By default, the [[Equave|equivalence interval]], or equave, of a MOS scale is assumed to be the [[octave]]. In discussions regarding MOS scales with [[non-octave]] equivalence intervals, the equivalence interval can be enclosed in angle brackets of either < > (less-than and greater-than symbols) or {{Angbr| }} (Unicode symbols U+27E8 and U+27E9). Whereas "5L 2s", for example, refers to an octave-equivalent pattern of 5 large and 2 small steps, 5L 2s{{Angbr|3/1}} refers to the same pattern but with 3/1 as the equivalence interval. To avoid conflicts with HTML tags, the use of Unicode symbols is advised.

=== Naming ===

== Properties ==

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As for using MOS scales in practice for making music, the period and equivalence interval are often taken to be the octave, but an additional parameter is required for defining a scale: the ''step ratio'', which is the ratio of the small step (usually denoted ''s'') to the large step (usually denoted ''L''). This is usually written as ''L''/''s'', however, using ''s''/''L'' has the advantage of avoiding division by zero in the trivial case where ''s'' = 0. Different step ratios can produce very varied sounding scales (and very varied corresponding potential temperament interpretations) for a given MOS pattern and period, so it's useful to consider a spectrum of simple step ratios for tunings. The [[TAMNAMS #Step ratio spectrum|TAMNAMS]] system has names for both specific ratios and ranges of ratios.

~~==Naming==~~

Any MOS can be clearly specified by giving its [[signature]], i.e. the number of small and large steps, which is typically notated e.g. "5L 2s," and its equave. Sometimes, if one simply wants to talk about step sizes without specifying which is large and small, the notation "5a 2b" is used (which could refer to either [[5L 2s|diatonic]] or [[2L 5s|anti-diatonic]]).

By default, the [[equave]] of a mos aL bs is assumed to be [[2/1]]. To specify a non-octave equave, "{{angbr|equave}}" is placed after the signature, e.g. [[4L 5s (3/1-equivalent)|4L 5s{{angbr|3/1}}]]. Using U+27E8 and U+27E9 angle brackets is recommended; using greater-than and less-than signs ("<equave>") is acceptable, but they can conflict with HTML and other uses of these symbols.

~~Several naming systems have also been proposed for MOS's, which can be seen at [[MOS naming]].~~

==Step ratio spectrum==

The melodic sound of a MOS is not just affected by the tuning of its intervals, but by the sizes of its steps. MOSes with L more similar to s sound smoother and more mellow. MOSes with L much larger than s sound jagged and dramatic. The ''step ratio'', the ratio between the sizes of L and s, is thus important to the sound of the scale.

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 {{User:Ganaram inukshuk/Template:Rewrite draft|MOS scale|compare=https://en.xen.wiki/w/Special:ComparePages?page1=MOS+scale&rev1=&page2=User%3AGanaram+inukshuk%2FMOS+scale&rev2=&action=&diffonly=&unhide=
 |changes=general rewrites; definition; wrangle different ways to say "mos"
-}}A '''moment-of-symmetry scale''' (commonly written as '''MOS scale''', '''MOSS''', or '''MOS''', pronounced "em-oh-ess"; also spelled as '''mos''', pronounced "moss"; plural '''MOSes''' or '''mosses''') is a type of [[binary]], [[periodic scale]].
+}}A '''moment-of-symmetry scale''' (abbreviated as '''MOS scale''', '''MOSS''', or '''MOS''', pronounced "em-oh-ess"; also spelled as '''mos''', pronounced "moss"; plural '''MOSes''' or '''mosses''') is a type of [[binary]], [[periodic scale]].
 == Definition ==
 === Erv Wilson's original definition ===
+The concept of MOS scales were invented by [[Erv Wilson]] in 1975 in his paper ''Moments of Symmetry'', where, given an [[edo]] of ''n'' equal divisions, a generator of ''g'' edosteps can be stacked repeatedly to divide the octave.
-=== Current definition ===
+=== Current and equivalent definitions ===
-== Naming ==
+== Notation ==
+A moment-of-symmetry scale of ''x'' large steps and ''y'' small steps, where ''x'' and ''y'' are whole numbers, is denoted using the [[scale signature]] ''x''L ''y''s. In cases where the exact sizes are not specified (that is, there is no distinction as to which step is large or small, the notation ''x''A ''y''B can be used instead, which can either refer to ''x''L ''y''s or ''y''L ''x''s.
+By default, the [[Equave|equivalence interval]], or equave, of a MOS scale is assumed to be the [[octave]]. In discussions regarding MOS scales with [[non-octave]] equivalence intervals, the equivalence interval can be enclosed in angle brackets of either < > (less-than and greater-than symbols) or {{Angbr|&nbsp;}} (Unicode symbols U+27E8 and U+27E9). Whereas "5L 2s", for example, refers to an octave-equivalent pattern of 5 large and 2 small steps, 5L 2s{{Angbr|3/1}} refers to the same pattern but with 3/1 as the equivalence interval. To avoid conflicts with HTML tags, the use of Unicode symbols is advised.
+=== Naming ===
+{{Main|MOS naming}}
 == Properties ==
@@ Line 39: / Line 46: @@
 As for using MOS scales in practice for making music, the period and equivalence interval are often taken to be the octave, but an additional parameter is required for defining a scale: the ''step ratio'', which is the ratio of the small step (usually denoted ''s'') to the large step (usually denoted ''L''). This is usually written as ''L''/''s'', however, using ''s''/''L'' has the advantage of avoiding division by zero in the trivial case where ''s'' = 0. Different step ratios can produce very varied sounding scales (and very varied corresponding potential temperament interpretations) for a given MOS pattern and period, so it's useful to consider a spectrum of simple step ratios for tunings. The [[TAMNAMS #Step ratio spectrum|TAMNAMS]] system has names for both specific ratios and ranges of ratios.
-==Naming==
-Any MOS can be clearly specified by giving its [[signature]], i.e. the number of small and large steps, which is typically notated e.g. "5L 2s," and its equave. Sometimes, if one simply wants to talk about step sizes without specifying which is large and small, the notation "5a 2b" is used (which could refer to either [[5L 2s|diatonic]] or [[2L 5s|anti-diatonic]]).
-By default, the [[equave]] of a mos aL bs is assumed to be [[2/1]]. To specify a non-octave equave, "{{angbr|equave}}" is placed after the signature, e.g. [[4L 5s (3/1-equivalent)|4L 5s{{angbr|3/1}}]]. Using U+27E8 and U+27E9 angle brackets is recommended; using greater-than and less-than signs ("<equave>") is acceptable, but they can conflict with HTML and other uses of these symbols.
-Several naming systems have also been proposed for MOS's, which can be seen at [[MOS naming]].
 ==Step ratio spectrum==
 The melodic sound of a MOS is not just affected by the tuning of its intervals, but by the sizes of its steps. MOSes with L more similar to s sound smoother and more mellow. MOSes with L much larger than s sound jagged and dramatic. The ''step ratio'', the ratio between the sizes of L and s, is thus important to the sound of the scale.