Just intonation
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[[toc|flat]] ---- =Just Intonation explained= Just Intonation describes intervals between pitches by specifying ratios (of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_number|rational numbers]]) between the frequencies of pitches. This is sometimes distinguished from //rational intonation// by requiring that the ratios be ones of low complexity (as for example measured by [[Tenney height]]) but there is no clear dividing line. The matter is partially a question of intent. The rank two tuning system in which all intervals are given as combinations of the just perfect fourth, 4/3, and the just minor third, 6/5, would seem to be a nonoctave 5-limit just intonation system by definition. In practice, it can hardly be used except as a rank two 7-limit [[Microtempering|microtempering]] system because of certain very accurate approximations to the octave and to seven limit intervals: (6/5)^2/(4/3) = 27/25, the semitone maximus or just minor second; and (27/25)^9 is less than a cent short of an octave, while (27/25)^2 is almost precisely 7/6, the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimal_minor_third|septimal minor third]]. If you are used to speaking only in note names, you may need to study the relation between frequency and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_%28music%29|pitch]]. Kyle Gann's //[[http://www.kylegann.com/tuning.html|Just Intonation Explained]]// is one good reference. A transparent illustration and one of just intonation's acoustic bases is the [[OverToneSeries|harmonic series]]. =Just Intonation used= The use of just intonation could be divided into these two flavors: ==Free Style Just== = = Lou Harrison used this term; it means that you choose just-intonation pitches, from the set of all possible just intervals (not from a mode or scale), as you use them in music. Dedicated page -> [[FreeStyleJI]] ==Constrained Just== (In need of a better name maybe) Here are six ways that musicians and theorists have constrained the field of potential just ratios (from Jacques Dudon, "Differential Coherence", //1/1// vol. 11, no. 2: p.1): //1. The principle of "[[Harmonic Limit|harmonic limits]]," which sets a threshold in order to place a limit on the largest prime number in any ratio (cf: Tanner's "psycharithmes" and his ordering by complexity; Gioseffe Zarlino's five-limit "senario," and the like; Helmholtz's theory of consonance with its "blending of partials," which, like the others, results in giving priority to the lowest prime numbers). 2. Restrictions on the combinations of numbers that make up the numerator and denominator of the ratios under consideration, such as the "monophonic" system of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Partch|Harry Partch]]'s [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_%28music%29|tonality diamond]]. This, incidentially, is an eleven-limit system that only makes use of ratios of the form n:d, where n and d are drawn only from harmonics 1,3 5 7 9, 11, or their octaves. 3. Other theorists who, in contrast to the above, advocate the use of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexany|products]] of a given set of prime numbers, such as Robert Dussaut, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erv_Wilson|Ervin Wilson]], and others. 4. [[Just intonation subgroups|Restrictions on the variety of prime numbers]] used within a system, for example, 3 used with only one [sic, also included is 2] other prime 7, 11, or 13.... This is quite common practice with Ptolemy, Ibn-Sina, Al-Farabi, and Saf-al-Din, and with numerous contemporary composers working in Just Intonation. 5. Restricting the denominator to one or very few values (the [[OverToneSeries|harmonic series]]). 6. Restricting the numerator to one or a very few values (the [[subharmonic series]] or [[aliquot scales]]).// =Just Intonation Propaganda?= Some people feel that there is a certain amount of ideological and propagandistic baggage associated to just intonation, and indeed some people do become infuriated when it is pointed out that the line between JI and non-JI is fuzzy or that [[Microtempering|microtempering]] sounds like JI. There is more than pig-headedness or quasi-religious sentiment involved in such responses, however, as the low prime limit rational numbers have a structure to them which can be grasped and employed by the composer. JI proponents are often reacting against promoters of equal temperament, especially 12-et, who often seem to feel that concern about close approximation to just intervals gets in the way of music. =Variations on 'Just'= [[Regular Temperaments]] are just intonation systems of various [[harmonic limits]] with certain commas 'tempered out' [[AdaptiveJI|Adaptive JI]] **Broken** links to JI theory pages on [[http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal|another microtonal wiki]], which await transfer to this wiki: [[http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/58Note11LimitJI|58 note 11 limit JI]] - hyper-Partchian! [[http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/Reduction|Reduction]] [[http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/Comma_20sequences|Comma sequences]] [[http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/Hahn_20distance|Hahn distance]] =Scalesmith's gallery of Just Intonation scales= [[Gallery of 12-tone Just Intonation Scales]] [[boogiewoogiescale|Boogie woogie scale]] [[Arnold Dreyblatt]] [[Gallery of pentatonics]] [[FiniteSubsetJI]]
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<html><head><title>Just intonation</title></head><body><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:16:<img id="wikitext@@toc@@flat" class="WikiMedia WikiMediaTocFlat" title="Table of Contents" src="/site/embedthumbnail/toc/flat?w=100&h=16"/> --><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:16 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:17: --><a href="#Just Intonation explained">Just Intonation explained</a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:17 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:18: --> | <a href="#Just Intonation used">Just Intonation used</a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:18 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:19: --><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:19 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:20: --> | <a href="#toc3"> </a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:20 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:21: --><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:21 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:22: --> | <a href="#Just Intonation Propaganda?">Just Intonation Propaganda?</a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:22 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:23: --> | <a href="#Variations on 'Just'">Variations on 'Just'</a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:23 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:24: --> | <a href="#Scalesmith's gallery of Just Intonation scales">Scalesmith's gallery of Just Intonation scales</a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:24 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:25: --> <!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:25 --><br /> <hr /> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:0:<h1> --><h1 id="toc0"><a name="Just Intonation explained"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:0 -->Just Intonation explained</h1> Just Intonation describes intervals between pitches by specifying ratios (of <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_number" rel="nofollow">rational numbers</a>) between the frequencies of pitches. This is sometimes distinguished from <em>rational intonation</em> by requiring that the ratios be ones of low complexity (as for example measured by <a class="wiki_link" href="/Tenney%20height">Tenney height</a>) but there is no clear dividing line. The matter is partially a question of intent. The rank two tuning system in which all intervals are given as combinations of the just perfect fourth, 4/3, and the just minor third, 6/5, would seem to be a nonoctave 5-limit just intonation system by definition. In practice, it can hardly be used except as a rank two 7-limit <a class="wiki_link" href="/Microtempering">microtempering</a> system because of certain very accurate approximations to the octave and to seven limit intervals: (6/5)^2/(4/3) = 27/25, the semitone maximus or just minor second; and (27/25)^9 is less than a cent short of an octave, while (27/25)^2 is almost precisely 7/6, the <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimal_minor_third" rel="nofollow">septimal minor third</a>.<br /> <br /> If you are used to speaking only in note names, you may need to study the relation between frequency and <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_%28music%29" rel="nofollow">pitch</a>. Kyle Gann's <em><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.kylegann.com/tuning.html" rel="nofollow">Just Intonation Explained</a></em> is one good reference. A transparent illustration and one of just intonation's acoustic bases is the <a class="wiki_link" href="/OverToneSeries">harmonic series</a>.<br /> <br /> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:2:<h1> --><h1 id="toc1"><a name="Just Intonation used"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:2 -->Just Intonation used</h1> The use of just intonation could be divided into these two flavors:<br /> <br /> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:4:<h2> --><h2 id="toc2"><a name="Just Intonation used-Free Style Just"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:4 -->Free Style Just</h2> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:6:<h1> --><h1 id="toc3"><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:6 --> </h1> Lou Harrison used this term; it means that you choose just-intonation pitches, from the set of all possible just intervals (not from a mode or scale), as you use them in music. Dedicated page -> <a class="wiki_link" href="/FreeStyleJI">FreeStyleJI</a><br /> <br /> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:8:<h2> --><h2 id="toc4"><a name="Just Intonation used-Constrained Just"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:8 -->Constrained Just</h2> (In need of a better name maybe) Here are six ways that musicians and theorists have constrained the field of potential just ratios (from Jacques Dudon, "Differential Coherence", <em>1/1</em> vol. 11, no. 2: p.1):<br /> <br /> <em>1. The principle of "<a class="wiki_link" href="/Harmonic%20Limit">harmonic limits</a>," which sets a threshold in order to place a limit on the largest prime number in any ratio (cf: Tanner's "psycharithmes" and his ordering by complexity; Gioseffe Zarlino's five-limit "senario," and the like; Helmholtz's theory of consonance with its "blending of partials," which, like the others, results in giving priority to the lowest prime numbers).<br /> <br /> 2. Restrictions on the combinations of numbers that make up the numerator and denominator of the ratios under consideration, such as the "monophonic" system of <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Partch" rel="nofollow">Harry Partch</a>'s <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_%28music%29" rel="nofollow">tonality diamond</a>. This, incidentially, is an eleven-limit system that only makes use of ratios of the form n:d, where n and d are drawn only from harmonics 1,3 5 7 9, 11, or their octaves.<br /> <br /> 3. Other theorists who, in contrast to the above, advocate the use of the <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexany" rel="nofollow">products</a> of a given set of prime numbers, such as Robert Dussaut, <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erv_Wilson" rel="nofollow">Ervin Wilson</a>, and others.<br /> <br /> 4. <a class="wiki_link" href="/Just%20intonation%20subgroups">Restrictions on the variety of prime numbers</a> used within a system, for example, 3 used with only one [sic, also included is 2] other prime 7, 11, or 13.... This is quite common practice with Ptolemy, Ibn-Sina, Al-Farabi, and Saf-al-Din, and with numerous contemporary composers working in Just Intonation.<br /> <br /> 5. Restricting the denominator to one or very few values (the <a class="wiki_link" href="/OverToneSeries">harmonic series</a>).<br /> <br /> 6. Restricting the numerator to one or a very few values (the <a class="wiki_link" href="/subharmonic%20series">subharmonic series</a> or <a class="wiki_link" href="/aliquot%20scales">aliquot scales</a>).</em><br /> <br /> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:10:<h1> --><h1 id="toc5"><a name="Just Intonation Propaganda?"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:10 -->Just Intonation Propaganda?</h1> <br /> Some people feel that there is a certain amount of ideological and propagandistic baggage associated to just intonation, and indeed some people do become infuriated when it is pointed out that the line between JI and non-JI is fuzzy or that <a class="wiki_link" href="/Microtempering">microtempering</a> sounds like JI. There is more than pig-headedness or quasi-religious sentiment involved in such responses, however, as the low prime limit rational numbers have a structure to them which can be grasped and employed by the composer. JI proponents are often reacting against promoters of equal temperament, especially 12-et, who often seem to feel that concern about close approximation to just intervals gets in the way of music.<br /> <br /> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:12:<h1> --><h1 id="toc6"><a name="Variations on 'Just'"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:12 -->Variations on 'Just'</h1> <a class="wiki_link" href="/Regular%20Temperaments">Regular Temperaments</a> are just intonation systems of various <a class="wiki_link" href="/harmonic%20limits">harmonic limits</a> with certain commas 'tempered out'<br /> <a class="wiki_link" href="/AdaptiveJI">Adaptive JI</a><br /> <br /> <strong>Broken</strong> links to JI theory pages on <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal" rel="nofollow">another microtonal wiki</a>, which await transfer to this wiki:<br /> <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/58Note11LimitJI" rel="nofollow">58 note 11 limit JI</a> - hyper-Partchian!<br /> <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/Reduction" rel="nofollow">Reduction</a><br /> <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/Comma_20sequences" rel="nofollow">Comma sequences</a><br /> <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://moinmoin.riters.com/microtonal/index.cgi/Hahn_20distance" rel="nofollow">Hahn distance</a><br /> <br /> <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:14:<h1> --><h1 id="toc7"><a name="Scalesmith's gallery of Just Intonation scales"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:14 -->Scalesmith's gallery of Just Intonation scales</h1> <a class="wiki_link" href="/Gallery%20of%2012-tone%20Just%20Intonation%20Scales">Gallery of 12-tone Just Intonation Scales</a><br /> <a class="wiki_link" href="/boogiewoogiescale">Boogie woogie scale</a><br /> <a class="wiki_link" href="/Arnold%20Dreyblatt">Arnold Dreyblatt</a><br /> <a class="wiki_link" href="/Gallery%20of%20pentatonics">Gallery of pentatonics</a><br /> <a class="wiki_link" href="/FiniteSubsetJI">FiniteSubsetJI</a></body></html>