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Universal Solfege was invented by Nick Vuci. It builds on the work of Margo Schulter to create a systematic solfege which can be applied to a variety of microtonal scales.


Universal Solfege was invented by [[User:Nick Vuci|Nick Vuci]]. It builds on [[Margo Schulter|Margo Schulter's]] [https://www.bestii.com/~mschulter/IntervalSpectrumRegions.txt "Regions of the Interval Spectrum"] to create a systematic solfege which can be applied to a variety of microtonal scales.


The principle is that we can divide the interval spectrum into discreet areas which can then be used to take subsets for most microtonal scales we can imagine. It's not an exhaustive solution but a practical and practicible one.  
The principle is that we can divide the interval spectrum into discreet areas which can then be used to take subsets for most microtonal scales we can imagine. It's not an exhaustive solution but a practical and practicible one.  


When we look at the spectrum of the octave we find that we have a few main interval classes, which we denote with consonants that are evocative and distinct to the names of the interval classes:
While the chart gives solfege syllables for 74 distinct intervals, the entire gamut is not meant to be used in one instance. Instead it is meant to be used via selection of a subset relevant to a main scale, and solfege are ideally chosen in a heirarchy that prioritizes larger categories over smaller ones. For example, the "Small," "Medium," and "Large" categories aren't necessary unless a scale includes two kinds of an interval and the distinction is necessary. 


The Unison and the Octave, which we denote with "A"
When using MOS, the solfege can be used in conjunction with "hexachords" to create a "microtonal "hexachordal solfeggio." (Of course, "hexachord" is the common term but here it is insufficient since the set many contain more or less than 6 notes depending on the MOS.)


The Seconds, which we denote with "S-"
Finally, to quote Schulter: <blockquote>
A main caution is that the borders are inevitably "fuzzy," so that one region shades into another and suggested values in cents are more illustrative than definitive.<ref>https://www.bestii.com/~mschulter/IntervalSpectrumRegions.txt</ref> </blockquote>This means that ultimately you should define the intervals as you hear them and as they function to you, not necessarily as they strictly fall on this chart. If a scale contains an interval that is 259 cents, but you hear it as a minor third in context, then give it the solfege syllable of a minor third instead of a semifourth.


The Thirds, which we denote with "Th-"
A chart below lays things out:
 
The Fourths, which we denote with "Fo-"
 
The Tritones, which we denote with "Trai-"
 
The Fifths, which we denote with "Fi-"
 
The Sixths, which we denote with "X-"
 
The Sevenths, which we denote with "V-"
 
Of these, the seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths have major, neutral, and minor versions, which we can denote with the vowels "ay" "oo" and "ai" (mimicking the distinct vowels of the words "major" "neutral" and "minor").
 
All of the main categories have small medium and large versions, which we can denote with the consonant affixes "s" "m" and "l"
 
 
The further, more esoteric categories do not have major, minor, neutral, large, medium, or small versions. They are:
 
Commatic ranges, which we denote with "O" and "Co"
 
The dieses range, which we denote with "Ee" and "Dee"
 
The Superfourth range, "Foo"
 
The Subfifth range, "Fu"
 
The two equable heptatonic ranges, "Ha" and Hoo"  
 
The four interseptimal ranges, which may be further broken down into
 
two categories:
 
The two interseptimals which touch perfect intervals, denoted as Na Noo
 
The two which do not, Ni Nee
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Interval
!Interval
Line 124: Line 90:
|160-182
|160-182
|Ha
|Ha
|a
|ha
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |Major
| rowspan="4" |Major
Line 147: Line 113:
|seɪl
|seɪl
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Interseptimal (Maj2-min3)     
| colspan="3" |Semifourth (Interseptimal Maj2-min3)     
|240-260
|240-260
|Ni
|Fe
|nɪ
|fɛ
|-
|-
| rowspan="12" |Thirds
| rowspan="12" |Thirds
Line 216: Line 182:
|θeɪl
|θeɪl
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Interseptimal (Maj3-4)
| colspan="3" |Semisixth (Interseptimal Maj3-4)
|440-468
|440-468
|Na
|Ke
|a
|kɛ
|-
|-
| colspan="2" rowspan="4" |Fourths
| colspan="2" rowspan="4" |Fourths
Line 245: Line 211:
|528-560
|528-560
|Foo
|Foo
|u
|fu
|-
|-
| colspan="2" rowspan="4" |Tritones
| colspan="2" rowspan="4" |Tritones
Line 294: Line 260:
|fɪl
|fɪl
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Interseptimal (5-min6)
| colspan="3" |Semitenth (Interseptimal 5-min6)
|732-760
|732-760
|Noo
|Te
|u
|tɛ
|-
|-
| rowspan="12" |Sixths
| rowspan="12" |Sixths
Line 304: Line 270:
|760-828
|760-828
|Kai
|Kai
|aɪ
|kaɪ
|-
|-
|Small
|Small
|760-777
|760-777
|Kais
|Kais
|aɪs
|kaɪs
|-
|-
|Medium
|Medium
|777-800
|777-800
|Kaim
|Kaim
|aɪm
|kaɪm
|-
|-
|Large
|Large
|800-828
|800-828
|Kail
|Kail
|aɪl
|kaɪl
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |Neutral
| rowspan="4" |Neutral
Line 325: Line 291:
|828-870
|828-870
|Koo
|Koo
|u
|ku
|-
|-
|Small
|Small
|828-840
|828-840
|Koos
|Koos
|us
|kus
|-
|-
|Medium
|Medium
|840-858
|840-858
|Koom
|Koom
|um
|kum
|-
|-
|Large
|Large
|858-870
|858-870
|Kool
|Kool
|ul
|kul
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |Major
| rowspan="4" |Major
Line 346: Line 312:
|870-940
|870-940
|Kay
|Kay
|eɪ
|keɪ
|-
|-
|Small
|Small
|870-900
|870-900
|Kays
|Kays
|eɪs
|keɪs
|-
|-
|Medium
|Medium
|900-920
|900-920
|Kaym
|Kaym
|eɪm
|keɪm
|-
|-
|Large
|Large
|920-940
|920-940
|Kayl
|Kayl
|eɪl
|keɪl
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Interseptimal (Maj6-min7)
| colspan="3" |(Semitwelfth Interseptimal Maj6-min7)
|940-960
|940-960
|Nee
|Twe
|ni
|twɛ
|-
|-
| rowspan="13" |Sevenths
| rowspan="13" |Sevenths
Line 373: Line 339:
|960-1025
|960-1025
|Vai
|Vai
|aɪ
|vaɪ
|-
|-
|Small
|Small
|960-987
|960-987
|Vais
|Vais
|aɪs
|vaɪs
|-
|-
|Medium
|Medium
|987-1000
|987-1000
|Vaim
|Vaim
|aɪm
|vaɪm
|-
|-
|Large
|Large
|1000-1025
|1000-1025
|Vail
|Vail
|aɪl
|vaɪl
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |Equable heptatonic
| colspan="2" |Equable heptatonic
|1018-1040
|1018-1040
|Ho
|Ho
|ɒ
|hɒ
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |Neutral
| rowspan="4" |Neutral
Line 399: Line 365:
|1030-1075
|1030-1075
|Voo
|Voo
|u
|vu
|-
|-
|Small
|Small
|1030-1043
|1030-1043
|Voos
|Voos
|us
|vus
|-
|-
|Medium
|Medium
|1043-1065
|1043-1065
|Voom
|Voom
|um
|vum
|-
|-
|Large
|Large
|1065-1075
|1065-1075
|Vool
|Vool
|ul
|vul
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |Major
| rowspan="4" |Major
Line 420: Line 386:
|1075-1140
|1075-1140
|Vay
|Vay
|eɪ
|veɪ
|-
|-
|Small
|Small
|1075-1100
|1075-1100
|Vays
|Vays
|eɪs
|veɪs
|-
|-
|Medium
|Medium
|1100-1120
|1100-1120
|Vaym
|Vaym
|eɪm
|veɪm
|-
|-
|Large
|Large
|1120-1140
|1120-1140
|Vayl
|Vayl
|eɪl
|veɪl
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Octave less diesis
| colspan="3" |Octave less diesis
|1140-1170
|1140-1170
|Dee
|Dee
|i
|di
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Octave less comma
| colspan="3" |Octave less comma
|1170-1200
|1170-1200
|Co
|Co
|ɒ
|kɒ
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Octave
| colspan="3" |Octave
Line 453: Line 419:
|}
|}


The Unison and the Octave (ie the "tonic") is always denoted with "A." (IPA: a)
For the main intervals which do not have major or minor forms, we give the following syllables:


Example: 13edo 5L3s 5|2
* "Fo" for fourths
* "Trai" for tritones
* "Fi" for fifths


0 A
For the main intervals which have major, neutral, and minor versions we assign evocative and distinct consonant affixes:


184.615 Say
* "S-" for seconds
* "Th-" for thirds
* "K-" for sixths
* "V-" for sevenths


276.923 Thai
To denote major, neutral, and minor versions of these intervals we add the vowels "ay" "oo" and "ai" (IPA "eɪ," "u," and "aɪ") which mimic the distinct vowels of the words "major," "neutral," and "minor."


461.538 Ni
All of these main categories have small medium and large versions, which we can denote with the consonant affixes "s" "m" and "l"


646.154 Fu
For the more esoteric categories we do not do not have major, minor, neutral, nor do we have large, medium, or small versions. These are denoted as follows:


738.462 Ni
* "O" and "Co" for the commatic ranges
* "Ee" and "Dee" for the dieses ranges
* "Foo" for the superfourth range
* "Fu" for the subfifth range
* "Ha" and Hoo" for the higher and lower equable heptatonic ranges  


923.077 ka
* The four interseptimal ranges
** "Fe" for semifourth
** "Ke" for semisixth
** "Te" for semitenth
** "Twe" for semitwelfth


1107.692 Va
We will now show some examples of how this system can be used in practice.  


1200. A
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="4" |<nowiki>24edo 3L4s 3|3</nowiki>
|-
!Cents
!Solfege
!Interval name
!
|-
|0
|A
|Unison
|
|-
|150
|Soo
|Neutral Second
|
|-
|350
|Thoo
|Neutral Third
|
|-
|500
|Fo
|Fourth
|
|-
|700
|Fi
|Fifth
|
|-
|850
|Koo
|Neutral Sixth
|
|-
|1050
|Voo
|Neutral Seventh
|
|-
|1200
|A
|Octave
|
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="3" |<nowiki>13edo 5L3s 5|2</nowiki>
|-
!Cents
!Solfege
!Interval name
|-
|0
|A
|Unison
|-
|184.615
|Say
|Major Second
|-
|276.923
|Thai
|Minor Third
|-
|461.538
|Nai
|Semisixth
|-
|646.154
|Fu
|Subfifth
|-
|738.462
|Noo
|Semitenth
|-
|923.077
|Kay
|Major Sixth
|-
|1107.692
|Vay
|Major Seventh
|}
Retrieved from "https://en.xen.wiki/w/Universal_solfege"