5-limit: Difference between revisions

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The '''5-limit''' consists of all [[just intonation]] intervals whose numerators and denominators are both products of the primes 2, 3, and 5; these are sometimes called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_number regular numbers]. Some examples of 5-limit intervals are [[5/4]], [[6/5]], [[10/9]] and [[81/80]]. The 5 odd-limit consists of intervals whose numerators and denominators, when all factors of two have been removed, are less than or equal to 5. Reduced to an octave, these are the ratios 1/1, 6/5, 5/4, [[4/3]], [[3/2]], [[8/5]], [[5/3]], [[2/1]]. Approximating these ratios has been basic to Western common-practice music since the Renaissance.
The '''5-limit''' consists of all [[just intonation]] intervals whose numerators and denominators are both products of the primes 2, 3, and 5; these are sometimes called [[wikipedia: Regular number|regular numbers]]. Some examples of 5-limit intervals are [[5/4]], [[6/5]], [[10/9]] and [[81/80]]. The [[5-odd-limit]] consists of intervals whose numerators and denominators, when all factors of two have been removed, are less than or equal to 5. Reduced to an octave, these are the ratios 1/1, 6/5, 5/4, [[4/3]], [[3/2]], [[8/5]], [[5/3]], [[2/1]]. Approximating these ratios has been basic to Western common-practice music since the Renaissance.


The octave equivalence classes of 5-limit or quinquimal intervals can usefully be depicted on a lattice diagram, either as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagonal_lattice hexagonal lattice] or as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_lattice square lattice]; this can be done automatically by [http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/ Scala]. If the intervals are depicted with maximum symmetry as a hexagonal lattice, then the corresponding 5-limit triads define a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagonal_tiling hexagonal tiling].
The octave equivalence classes of 5-limit or ''quinquimal'' intervals can usefully be depicted on a lattice diagram, either as a [[wikipedia: Hexagonal lattice |hexagonal lattice]] or as a [[wikipedia: Square lattice|square lattice]]; this can be done automatically by [[Scala]]. If the intervals are depicted with maximum symmetry as a hexagonal lattice, then the corresponding 5-limit triads define a [[wikipedia:Hexagonal tiling|hexagonal tiling]].


[[EDO]]s which do relatively well in approximating the 5-limit (harmonics 3 and 5) are {{EDOs| 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 19, 22, 31, 34, 53, 118, 289, 323, 441, 494, 559, 612, 1171, 1783, 2513, 3684, 4296, ... }}
[[EDO]]s which do relatively well in approximating the 5-limit (harmonics 3 and 5){{clarify}} are {{EDOs| 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 19, 22, 31, 34, 53, 118, 289, 323, 441, 494, 559, 612, 1171, 1783, 2513, 3684, 4296, }}


Another approach is to find EDOs which have better approximations for [[5-odd-limit]] intervals than all smaller EDOs. This results in {{EDOs| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 19, 31, 34, 53, 118, 171, 289, 323, 441, 612, 730, 1171, 1783, 2513, 4296, ... }}
Another approach is to find EDOs which have better approximations for [[5-odd-limit]] intervals than all smaller EDOs{{clarify}}. This results in {{EDOs| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 19, 31, 34, 53, 118, 171, 289, 323, 441, 612, 730, 1171, 1783, 2513, 4296, }}


== Syntonic Comma Pairs ==
== Syntonic comma pairs ==
A significant interval in 5-limit JI is [[81/80]], the syntonic comma or Didymus' comma, which measures about 21.5¢. Although it rarely appears as an interval in a scale, it represents the difference between many 5-limit intervals and a nearby [[3-limit]] (Pythagorean) interval. 81/80 is tempered out in [[12edo]], [[meantone]], and many other related systems, meaning that those 5- and 3-limit distinctions are obliterated and one interval stands in for each. Living in a largely 12edo musical culture from birth, we are not accustomed to distinguishing two different major thirds, two different minor seconds, etc. Below is a list of some common intervals involving 3 and 5 which are distinguished by 81/80. The next column modifies intervals by another 81/80, for a total of 6561/6400 (43 cents). '''Bold''' fractions are simplest for this interval category.
A significant interval in 5-limit JI is [[81/80]], the syntonic comma or Didymus' comma, which measures about 21.5¢. Although it rarely appears as an interval in a scale, it represents the difference between many 5-limit intervals and a nearby [[3-limit]] (Pythagorean) interval. 81/80 is tempered out in [[12edo]], [[meantone]], and many other related systems, meaning that those 5- and 3-limit distinctions are obliterated and one interval stands in for each. Living in a largely 12edo musical culture from birth, we are not accustomed to distinguishing two different major thirds, two different minor seconds, etc. Below is a list of some common intervals involving 3 and 5 which are distinguished by 81/80. The next column modifies intervals by another 81/80, for a total of 6561/6400 (43 cents). '''Bold''' fractions are simplest for this interval category.


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It is important to note that 5-limit music does not mean favoring intervals of 5 over intervals of 3. It means allowing for ''both'' 3's and 5's in generating harmonic material, and so it is an interplay between both. The 5-limit ''includes'' the 3-limit -- a work in 5-limit JI will utilize intervals from both sides of the chart above.
It is important to note that 5-limit music does not mean favoring intervals of 5 over intervals of 3. It means allowing for ''both'' 3's and 5's in generating harmonic material, and so it is an interplay between both. The 5-limit ''includes'' the 3-limit a work in 5-limit JI will utilize intervals from both sides of the chart above.
 
See [[Harmonic_Limit|Harmonic Limit]]


== Music ==
== Music ==
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* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Copper/Catch%20for%20Woodwind%20Quintet-0570.mp3 Catch for Woodwin Quintet] by [http://www.hartenshield.com/william_copper.html William Copper]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Copper/Catch%20for%20Woodwind%20Quintet-0570.mp3 Catch for Woodwin Quintet] by [http://www.hartenshield.com/william_copper.html William Copper]


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[5-odd-limit]]
* [[5-odd-limit]]
* [[Harmonic limit]]


[[Category:5-limit| ]] <!-- main article -->
[[Category:5-limit| ]] <!-- main article -->
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[[Category:Sound example]]
[[Category:Sound example]]
[[Category:Prime limit]]
[[Category:Prime limit]]
[[Category:Rank three temperament]]
[[Category:Rank 3]]