Fox–Raven notation

The Fox–Raven notation (FRN) is an absolute pitch-based notation for the oneirotonic mos scale created by The Well-Tempered Fox and Inthar.

Concept and Score

FRN is a notation scheme for oneirotonic tunings, tailored to AP hearers.

The score should include the text "This score uses the Fox-Raven notation standard. Visit xen.wiki for more information." This ensures that someone reading the score can easily find information about how to read it.

Pitch standard

The default pitch standard in FRN is N4 ("middle N") = standard middle C = 261.63 Hz. The term "middle J" can be used for the note J4, which lies a major 4-mosstep above N4 = middle C.

To change the pitch standard, indicate the pitch standard you're using (e.g. "J4 = 360 Hz") at the top of the score.

Note names

The note names N4 O4 P4 Q4 J4 K4 L4 M4 N5 denote the Hlanithian (1|6 in UDP, sLLsLsLL) mode on N4 = C4. (This makes JKLMNOPQJ J Celephaisian or LsLLsLLs.) All octave transpositions of these notes have the number shifted by the appropriate amount. All alterations of a given note by accidentals have the same octave number as the original note. For example, in 13edo N♭4 is the note 1\13 below N4, and is enharmonic with M♯3.

FRN accidentals are analogous to diatonic ones:

• Sharps and flats (♯ / ♭) represent alteration by one moschroma (L − s).
• Double sharps and double flats (𝄪 / 𝄫) represent alteration by two moschomas.
• Semisharps and semiflats (  /  ) represent half-moschromas in systems such as 18edo and 26edo where the moschroma can be split into two equal parts. These cannot be used in systems that do not split the oneirotonic chroma into two equal parts, such as 21edo.
• Sesquisharps and sesquiflats (  /  ) alter by one-and-one-half moschromas.
• In edo systems, ups and downs (^ v) denote alteration by one edo step. They can still be used when a detuned edo (such as a neji) is notated as the edo, but cannot be used when the notation is not edo-based (e.g. based on a consistent non-edo oneirotonic generator).

When writing a note name, the nominal is given first, then the accidentals are listed in order from smallest to largest, then the octave number: e.g. M^ 4 in 36edo means M4 altered by ^ (1\36) +   (−2\36) + ♭ (−4\36), that is M4 flattened by 5\36.

A subtle but important feature of the standard is that accidentals are separate from each other and do not stack. If a note has an accidental in front, that accidental fully overrides any preceding accidentals. For example, if a K with a ♯ is followed by a K with only an ^, the second note is K^, not K^♯.

Chain of oneirofourths

... L♭ O♭ J♭ M♭ P♭ K♭ N♭ Q♭ L O J M P K N Q L♯ O♯ J♯ M♯ P♯ K♯ N♯ Q♯ ...

Enharmonic equivalences in the simplest oneirotonic edos:

• 13edo: K♯ = L
• 18edo: K♯ = M♭
• 21edo: K♯ = L♭

Step sizes

• 13edo: J–J♯ = K–L = 1\13, J–K = 2\13
• 18edo: J–J♯ = 2\18, J–K = 3\18, K–L = 1\18
• 21edo: J–J♯ = 1\21, J–K = 3\21, K–L = 2\21
• 23edo: J–J♯ = 3\23, J–K = 4\23, K–L = 1\23
• 29edo: J–J♯ = 1\29, J–K = 4\29, K–L = 3\23
• 31edo: J–J♯ = 3\31, J–K = 5\31, K–L = 2\31
• 34edo: J–J♯ = 2\34, J–K = 5\34, K–L = 3\34

Clefs

M clef: equivalent of G clef

O clef: equivalent of F clef

Todo: add illustration

Key signatures

• J♭ Celeph: Q♭ N♭ K♭ P♭ M♭ J♭ O♭ L♭
• M♭ Celeph: Q♭ N♭ K♭ P♭ M♭ J♭ O♭
• P♭ Celeph: Q♭ N♭ K♭ P♭ M♭ J♭
• K♭ Celeph: Q♭ N♭ K♭ P♭ M♭
• N♭ Celeph: Q♭ N♭ K♭ P♭
• Q♭ Celeph: Q♭ N♭ K♭
• L Celeph: Q♭ N♭
• O Celeph: Q♭
• J Celeph: no sharps or flats
• M Celeph: L♯
• P Celeph: L♯ O♯
• K Celeph: L♯ O♯ J♯
• N Celeph: L♯ O♯ J♯ M♯
• Q Celeph: L♯ O♯ J♯ M♯ P♯
• L♯ Celeph: L♯ O♯ J♯ M♯ P♯ K♯
• O♯ Celeph: L♯ O♯ J♯ M♯ P♯ K♯ N♯
• J♯ Celeph: L♯ O♯ J♯ M♯ P♯ K♯ N♯ Q♯

4 more key sigs, for 21edo:

• M♯ Celeph: L𝄪 O♯ J♯ M♯ P♯ K♯ N♯ Q♯
• P♯ Celeph: L𝄪 O𝄪 J♯ M♯ P♯ K♯ N♯ Q♯
• O♭ Celeph: Q𝄫 N♭ K♭ P♭ M♭ J♭ O♭ L♭
• L♭ Celeph: Q𝄫 N𝄫 K♭ P♭ M♭ J♭ O♭ L♭