39edo: Difference between revisions

Intervals: precision to 2 decimal places, following the nearby 41edo; sort ratios by complexity
Theory: rework to introduce the plain fifth first
Line 2: Line 2:
{{EDO intro|39}}
{{EDO intro|39}}
== Theory ==
== Theory ==
If we take 22\39 as a fifth, 39edo can be used in [[Mavila|mavila temperament]], and from that point of view it seems to have attracted the attention of the [[Armodue]] school, an Italian group that use the scheme of [[7L 2s|superdiatonic]] LLLsLLLLs like a basical scale for notation and theory, suited in [[16edo]], and allied systems: [[25edo]] [1/3-tone 3;2]; [[41edo]] [1/5-tone 5;3]; and [[57edo]] [1/7-tone 7;4]. The [[hornbostel]] temperament is included too with: [[23edo]] [1/3-tone 3;1]; 39edo [1/5-tone 5;2] & [[62edo]] [1/8-tone 8;3].
39edo's [[3/2|perfect fifth]] is 5.8 cents sharp. Together with its best [[5/4|classical major third]] which is the familiar 400 cents of [[12edo]], we get a system which [[tempering out|tempers out]] the [[diesis]], 128/125, and the [[amity comma]], 1600000/1594323. We have two choices for a map for [[7/1|7]], but the sharp one works better with the [[3/1|3]] and [[5/1|5]], which adds [[64/63]] and [[126/125]] to the list. Tempering out both 128/125 and 64/63 makes 39et, in some few ways, allied to 12et in [[support]]ing [[augene]], and is in fact, an excellent choice for an augene tuning, but one difference is that 39et has a fine [[11/1|11]], and adding it to consideration we find that the equal temperament tempers out [[99/98]] and [[121/120]] also. This choice for 39et is the 39d [[val]] {{val| 39 62 91 '''110''' 135 }}.


However, its 23\39 fifth, 5.737 cents sharp, is in much better tune than the mavila fifth which like all mavila fifths is very, very flat, in this case, 25 cents flat. Together with its best third which is the familiar 400 cents of 12edo, we get a system which tempers out the [[diesis]], 128/125, and the [[amity comma]], 1600000/1594323. We have two choices for a map for 7, but the sharp one works better with the 3 and 5, which adds [[64/63]] and [[126/125]] to the list. Tempering out both 128/125 and 64/63 makes 39edo, in some few ways, allied to 12et in [[support|supporting]] [[Augene|augene temperament]], and is in fact, an excellent choice for an augene tuning, but one difference is that 39 has a fine 11, and adding it to consideration we find that 39edo tempers out [[99/98]] and [[121/120]] also. This better choice for 39et is {{val| 39 62 91 '''110''' 135 }}.
A particular anecdote with this system was made in the Teliochordon, in 1788 by Charles Clagget (Ireland, 1740?–1820), a little extract [http://ml.oxfordjournals.org/content/76/2/291.extract.jpg here].


A particular anecdote with this 39 divisions per 2/1 was made in the Teliochordon, in 1788 by Charles Clagget (Ireland, 1740?–1820), a little extract [http://ml.oxfordjournals.org/content/76/2/291.extract.jpg here].
As a [[superpyth]] system, 39edo is intermediate between [[17edo]] and [[22edo]] (39 = 17 + 22). While 17edo is superb for melody (as documented by [[George Secor]]), it does not approximate the 5th harmonic at all and only poorly approximates the 7th. 22edo is much better for 5-limit and 7-limit harmony but is less effective for melody because the diatonic semitone is quarter-tone-sized, which results in a very strange-sounding diatonic scale. 39edo offers a compromise, since it still supports good 5- and 7-limit harmonies (though less close than 22edo), while at the same time having a diatonic semitone of 61.5 cents, as the ideal diatonic semitone for melody is somewhere in between 60 and 80 cents, i.e. a third tone, by Secor's estimates.


As a [[superpyth]] system, 39edo is intermediate between [[17edo]] and [[22edo]] (39 being 17 + 22). While 17edo is superb for melody (as documented by [[George Secor]]), it does not approximate the 5th harmonic at all and only poorly approximates the 7th. 22edo is much better for 5-limit and 7-limit harmony but is less effective for melody because the diatonic semitone is quarter-tone-sized, which results in a very strange-sounding diatonic scale. 39edo offers a compromise, since it still supports good 5- and 7-limit harmonies (though less close than 22edo), while at the same time having a diatonic semitone of 61.5 cents, as the ideal diatonic semitone for melody is somewhere in between 60 and 80 cents, i.e. a third tone, by Secor's estimates.
If we take 22\39 as a fifth, 39edo can be used as a tuning of [[mavila]], and from that point of view it seems to have attracted the attention of the [[Armodue]] school, an Italian group that use the scheme of [[7L 2s|superdiatonic]] LLLsLLLLs like a base scale for notation and theory, suited in [[16edo]], and allied systems: [[25edo]] [1/3-tone 3;2]; [[41edo]] [1/5-tone 5;3]; and [[57edo]] [1/7-tone 7;4]. The [[hornbostel]] temperament is included too with: [[23edo]] [1/3-tone 3;1]; 39edo [1/5-tone 5;2] & [[62edo]] [1/8-tone 8;3]. The mavila fifth in 39edo like all mavila fifths is very, very flat, in this case, 25 cents flat.  


39edo offers not one, but many, possible ways of extending tonality beyond the diatonic scale, even if it does not do as good of a job at approximating [[JI]] as some other systems do. Because it can also approximate mavila as well as "anti-mavila" ([[oneirotonic]]), the latter of which it inherits from [[13edo]], this makes 39edo an extremely versatile temperament usable in a wide range of situations (both harmonic and inharmonic).
39edo offers not one, but many, possible ways of extending tonality beyond the diatonic scale, even if it does not do as good of a job at approximating [[JI]] as some other systems do. Because it can also approximate mavila as well as "anti-mavila" ([[oneirotonic]]), the latter of which it inherits from [[13edo]], this makes 39edo an extremely versatile temperament usable in a wide range of situations (both harmonic and inharmonic).