User:Nick Vuci/Moments of Symmetry

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WORK-IN-PROGRESS AS OF 27 MAY 2025

Moments of Symmetry (MOS) are scales created by a simple procedure that generates the common pentatonic and diatonic scales, but also a wide range of novel xenharmonic scales that share the same melodic coherence and structural balance. First described by Erv Wilson in the 1970's, the concept shares fundamental similarities and is often thought of as synonymous with the concept of Well-Formed scales, as well as the more generalized concept of MV2 scales. Over time, MOS has become a central tool in xenharmonic theory, inspiring a wide range of musical uses, analytical approaches, and derivative concepts such as MODMOS, multi-MOS, and MOS-based rhythm.

Construction

Step Ratios

The step ratio (also simply called the hardness) of MOS denote the relative sizes of the large and small steps and is an important factor for classifying MOS patterns. For a more thorough discussion on the spectrum of step ratios, please see TAMNAMS.

Spectrum of MOS