Cross-set scale
A cross-set scale is a scale generated by taking every ordered pair in the Cartesian product of two or more scales, or of a scale with itself, and stacking all elements in each ordered pair. In mathematical notation, the cross-set of scales A, B, ... Z is:
[math]\displaystyle{ \text{Cross-set}(A, B, ..., Z) = \{ a + b + \cdots + z : (a, b, ..., z) \in A \times B \times \cdots \times Z\}. }[/math]
In combinatorics, this operation is called a sumset.
As reported by Nick Vuci, "the term Cross-Set as applied to scales is apparently the invention of Praveen Venkataramana".
Examples
The 4:5:6:7 cross-set scale is generated by multiplying every pair of intervals from the 4:5:6:7 tetrad (1/1 - 5/4 - 3/2 - 7/4), including an interval with itself, and octave-reducing as necessary. It contains 10 distinct pitches out of 16 combinations.
1/1 × 1/1 1/1 |
5/4 × 1/1 5/4 |
3/2 × 1/1 3/2 |
7/4 × 1/1 7/4 |
1/1 × 5/4 5/4 |
5/4 × 5/4 25/16 |
3/2 × 5/4 15/8 |
7/4 × 5/4 35/32 |
1/1 × 3/2 3/2 |
5/4 × 3/2 15/8 |
3/2 × 3/2 9/8 |
7/4 × 3/2 21/16 |
1/1 × 7/4 7/4 |
5/4 × 7/4 35/32 |
3/2 × 7/4 21/16 |
7/4 × 7/4 49/32 |
The starting scales do not need to be in just intonation; a cross-set scale could be constructed from any kind of scale.