Kite's color notation: Difference between revisions
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* Most important of all, there are names for not only notes but also <u>intervals</u>. | * Most important of all, there are names for not only notes but also <u>intervals</u>. | ||
* As a result, color notation can name scales, chords, chord progressions and even prime subgroups and temperaments. | * As a result, color notation can name scales, chords, chord progressions and even prime subgroups and temperaments. | ||
Colorspeak is designed to be an international language, a sort of microtonal Esperanto easily learned and spoken no matter what one's native language is. Almost every term in colorspeak is one syllable ending with a vowel. The five basic vowels are pronounced ah-eh-ee-oh-oo as in Spanish or Italian. To avoid using sounds not in one's native language, it has been [[Color notation/Translations|translated]] to other languages. For example, in | Colorspeak is designed to be an international language, a sort of microtonal Esperanto easily learned and spoken no matter what one's native language is. Almost every term in colorspeak is one syllable ending with a vowel. The five basic vowels are pronounced ah-eh-ee-oh-oo as in Spanish or Italian. To avoid using sounds not in one's native language, it has been [[Color notation/Translations|translated]] to other languages. For example, in many European languages, "th-" for prime 13 becomes "tr-". | ||
== Color Names for Primes 3, 5 and 7 == | == Color Names for Primes 3, 5 and 7 == | ||
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Prime subgroups: yala = 2.3.5.11, zalatha nowa = 2.7.11.13, and yazalatha = 2.3.5.7.11.13 = the full 13-limit. '''Noya''' is a descriptive adjective, not used in actual prime subgroup names, that indicates the absence of 5 and the presence of higher primes, e.g. zala, latha and zalatha are all noya. Likewise, there's '''noza''', '''noyaza''', etc. | Prime subgroups: yala = 2.3.5.11, zalatha nowa = 2.7.11.13, and yazalatha = 2.3.5.7.11.13 = the full 13-limit. '''Noya''' is a descriptive adjective, not used in actual prime subgroup names, that indicates the absence of 5 and the presence of higher primes, e.g. zala, latha and zalatha are all noya. Likewise, there's '''noza''', '''noyaza''', etc. | ||
On the score and in note names, the 1o accidental either raises by 33/32 or lowers by 729/704. The meaning will usually be clear from context, however it's safer to write at the top of the page either "1o4 = P4" or "1o4 = A4". Likewise, 3o6 should be noted as either m6 or M6. While the note 11/8 above C can be written two ways, either as 1oF or as 1oF#, the interval 11/8 can only be written one way, as 1o4. Likewise, 13/8 above C is either 3oA or 3oAb, but 13/8 is only 3o6. <u>This is the rationale for using large/small/central rather than major/minor</u>. 11/9 is ambiguously major or minor, but unambiguously central. Intervals names and chord names become unambiguous for la and tha intervals. Another rationale | On the score and in note names, the 1o accidental either raises by 33/32 or lowers by 729/704. The meaning will usually be clear from context, however it's safer to write at the top of the page either "1o4 = P4" or "1o4 = A4". Likewise, 3o6 should be noted as either m6 or M6. While the note 11/8 above C can be written two ways, either as 1oF or as 1oF#, the interval 11/8 can only be written one way, as 1o4. Likewise, 13/8 above C is either 3oA or 3oAb, but 13/8 is only 3o6. <u>This is the rationale for using large/small/central rather than major/minor</u>. 11/9 is ambiguously major or minor, but unambiguously central. Intervals names and chord names become unambiguous for la and tha intervals. Another rationale is that commonly used intervals and chords are all central, and get concise names: gu 3rd not gu minor 3rd, A gu not A gu minor, etc. (see [[#Chord Names]] below). | ||
'''So''' = 17-over, '''su''' = 17-under, and '''sa''' = 17-all, abbreviated as '''17o''', '''17u''' and '''17a'''. '''Iso''' is an alternate form of so, to distinguish it from the solfege syllable So. 17/12 = 17o5 = iso So. '''Isa''' is an alternate form of sa, to distinguish it from sa for small, and from the Indian saregam syllable Sa. | '''So''' = 17-over, '''su''' = 17-under, and '''sa''' = 17-all, abbreviated as '''17o''', '''17u''' and '''17a'''. '''Iso''' is an alternate form of so, to distinguish it from the solfege syllable So. 17/12 = 17o5 = iso So. '''Isa''' is an alternate form of sa, to distinguish it from sa for small, and from the Indian saregam syllable Sa. | ||
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'''Ino''' = 19-over, '''nu''' = 19-under, and '''na''' = 19-all, abbreviated as '''19o''', '''19u''' and '''19a'''. Ino because "no 3rd" could mean either 19/16 or thirdless. '''Inu''' is an alternate form of nu, to distinguish "the nu chord" from "the new chord". 12edo implies yasana = 2.3.5.17.19. | '''Ino''' = 19-over, '''nu''' = 19-under, and '''na''' = 19-all, abbreviated as '''19o''', '''19u''' and '''19a'''. Ino because "no 3rd" could mean either 19/16 or thirdless. '''Inu''' is an alternate form of nu, to distinguish "the nu chord" from "the new chord". 12edo implies yasana = 2.3.5.17.19. | ||
The prefix i- is only used when confusion is possible. Thus 19/15 = nogu 4th, not inogu 4th, and 2.3.5.17.19 is yasana not yasaina. | |||
Similarly, '''tweno/-nu/-na''' = 29o/29u/29a, '''thiwo/-wu/-wa''' = 31o/31u/31a, etc. The abbreviations are '''twe-, thi-, fo-, fi- and si-'''. Unfortunately seventy can't become se- because that already means 17-exponent (see [[#Temperament Names]] below). Setho means 13<sup>17</sup>-over, so it can't mean 73-over. So starting at 71, the longer form is used: 71o is seventy-wo, 73o is seventy-tho, etc. | '''Twetho''' = 23-over, '''twethu''' = 23-under, and '''twetha''' = 23-all, abbreviated as '''23o''', '''23u''' and '''23a'''. 2.3.5.7.23 = yaza23a = yazatwetha. 23/16 = 23o5 = twetho 5th, and 23/22 = 23o1u2 = twetholu 2nd. 529/512 = 23oo2 = bitwetho 2nd (not twethotho, because that means 23-over 13-over). | ||
Similarly, '''tweno/-nu/-na''' = 29o/29u/29a, '''thiwo/-wu/-wa''' = 31o/31u/31a, etc. The abbreviations are '''twe-''', '''thi-''', '''fo-''', '''fi-''' and '''si-'''. Unfortunately seventy can't become se- because that already means 17-exponent (see [[#Temperament Names]] below). Setho means 13<sup>17</sup>-over, so it can't mean 73-over. So starting at 71, the longer form is used: 71o is seventy-wo, 73o is seventy-tho, etc. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
!prime | !prime | ||
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|61o | |61o | ||
|67o | |67o | ||
|71o | |||
|- | |- | ||
!word | !word | ||
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|siwo | |siwo | ||
|siso | |siso | ||
|seventy-wo | |||
|} | |} | ||
For any prime P, the degree of the ratio P/1 is chosen to minimize negative intervals. It is determined by its 8ve-reduced cents, and how it relates to 12edo: | |||
For any prime P, the degree of the ratio P/1 is chosen to minimize negative intervals. It is determined by its 8ve-reduced cents, and how it relates to 12edo: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
!unison | !unison | ||
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== Exponents == | == Exponents == | ||
Exponent syllables aka multiplier syllables provide a way to shorten names that have repeated syllables. For example, 250/243 = 2<sup>1</sup> * 3<sup>-5</sup> * 5<sup>3</sup> is a yoyoyo unison which shortens to triyo 1sn. Exponents can apply to magnitudes (Wa-22 = sasasawa 4th --> trisawa 4th) or octaves (13/1 = cococotho 6th --> tricotho 6th). | |||
We've seen bi- for double and tri- for triple. Quadruple and quintuple are abbreviated '''quad-''' and '''quin-''', as in quadyo or quingu. | We've seen bi- for double and tri- for triple. Quadruple and quintuple are abbreviated '''quad-''' and '''quin-''', as in quadyo or quingu. Colorspeak syllables usually end in one of the five basic vowels. Quad and quin are both exceptions, so quad may optionally be spoken as "kwah", and quin as "kwee". | ||
Except for quad, all exponent syllables are prime numbers. Septuple is '''sep-'''. Above 7, all exponent syllables are the root color word plus -e. Eleven-fold is '''le-''' = "e'''<u>l</u>'''even '''<u>e</u>'''xponent", pronounced as in "<u>le</u>gitimate". Thirteen-fold is '''the-''' as in "<u>the</u>saurus". Note that sep- means seven-fold and '''se-''' means seven<u>teen</u>-fold. | |||
Exponents can be combined: sextuple = tribi-, 8-fold = quadbi-, 9-fold = tritri-, 10-fold = quinbi-, 12-fold = quadtri-, 14-fold = sepbi-, 15-fold = quintri-, 16-fold = quadquad-, etc. The component syllables are simply the number's prime factors in descending order, except that quad replaces bibi and comes before tri. | Exponents can be combined: sextuple = tribi-, 8-fold = quadbi-, 9-fold = tritri-, 10-fold = quinbi-, 12-fold = quadtri-, 14-fold = sepbi-, 15-fold = quintri-, 16-fold = quadquad-, etc. The component syllables are simply the number's prime factors in descending order, except that quad replaces bibi and comes before tri. | ||
Exponents affect all subsequent syllables until the '''-a-''' delimiter occurs: | Exponents affect all subsequent syllables until the '''-a-''' delimiter occurs: trizogu = z<sup>3</sup>g<sup>3</sup>, but trizo-agu = z<sup>3</sup>g. The "a" in la- and sa- also acts as a delimiter: trilayo = L<sup>3</sup>y, not L<sup>3</sup>y<sup>3</sup>, which would be trila-triyo. | ||
Long color names use hyphens to make the name easier to parse. There are strict rules for hyphenation, to ensure uniformity. | Long color names use hyphens to make the name easier to parse. There are strict rules for hyphenation, to ensure uniformity. | ||
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*Put a hyphen after coco-, trico-, etc. | *Put a hyphen after coco-, trico-, etc. | ||
*Put a hyphen before and after "seventy", "eighty", etc. | *Put a hyphen before and after "seventy", "eighty", etc. | ||
The hyphen after the magnitude is omitted if it would create a subunit of 1 syllable. Thus layo, lalagu and sagugu are all unhyphenated. However, the last rule always holds, e.g. | The hyphen after the magnitude is omitted if it would create a subunit of 1 syllable. Thus layo, lalagu and sagugu are all unhyphenated. However, the last rule always holds, e.g. 284/243 = 2<sup>2</sup> * 3<sup>-5</sup> * 71 is a sa-seventy-wo 3rd. | ||
[[Color notation/Temperament Names|Temperament names]] use an alternate format for interval names that omits the degree. The | [[Color notation/Temperament Names|Temperament names]] use an alternate format for interval names that omits the degree. The suffixes -bi and -tri are occasionally used in these names in a completely different sense. | ||
== Converting a Ratio to/from a Color Name == | == Converting a Ratio to/from a Color Name == | ||
Often a ratio can be converted by breaking it down into simpler ratios with familiar color names, then adding. For example, 45/32 is 5/4 times 9/8, which is y3 plus w2. The colors and degrees are summed, making y4. The magnitude is <u>not</u> summed, and must be found either visually from the lattices above, or from the monzo directly. 45/32 = [-5 2 1>, and (2+1)/7 rounds to 0, so it's central, and 45/32 = y4. | Often a ratio can be converted by breaking it down into simpler ratios with familiar color names, then adding. For example, 45/32 is 5/4 times 9/8, which is y3 plus w2. The colors and degrees are summed, making y4. The magnitude is <u>not</u> summed, and must be found either visually from the lattices above, or from the monzo directly. 45/32 = [-5 2 1>, and (2+1)/7 rounds to 0, so it's central, and 45/32 = y4. | ||
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== Glossary / Crash Course == | == Glossary / Crash Course == | ||
'''Over''' = prime in the numerator. '''Under''' = prime in the denominator. '''All''' = over, under or neither: wa = 3-limit, ya = 2.3.5, yaza = 2.3.5.7. '''Exponent''' = | '''Over''' = prime in the numerator. '''Under''' = prime in the denominator. '''All''' = over, under or neither: wa = 3-limit, ya = 2.3.5, yaza = 2.3.5.7. '''Exponent''' = repeated syllable: triyo = yoyoyo = 125-over. | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
|+ | |+ | ||
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|small, diminished by 2187/2048 from the central ratio | |small, diminished by 2187/2048 from the central ratio | ||
|27/16 = wa 6th = w6, 128/81 = sawa 6th = sw6 | |27/16 = wa 6th = w6, 128/81 = sawa 6th = sw6 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" |nowa | | colspan="2" |nowa | ||
|remove 3 (wa) from the prime subgroup, i.e. no-threes | |remove 3 (wa) from the prime subgroup, i.e. no-threes | ||
|2.5.7 = yaza nowa, 2.5.7 with 50/49 = Biruyo nowa | |2.5.7 = yaza nowa, 2.5.7 with 50/49 = Biruyo nowa | ||
|- | |- | ||
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|remove both 2 and 3 from the prime subgroup | |remove both 2 and 3 from the prime subgroup | ||
|5.7.11 = yazala nowaca | |5.7.11 = yazala nowaca | ||
|- | |||
|plus | |||
| style="text-align:center" | + | |||
|add an untempered prime to the temperament | |||
|Blackwood = 2.3.5 with 256/243 tempered out = Sawa + ya | |||
|- | |- | ||
|and | |and | ||