L4MPLIGHT
L4MPLIGHT, also known as LAMPLIGHT (stylized LΛMPLIGHT) or ランプライト, is a Japanese composer, music theorist, conlanger and worldbuilder.
They developed the Shasavic, Faentian, and Lisatopian constructed languages, and Shasavistic music theory.
Constructed languages
They have created three languages, all descended from the same proto-language. The languages, called Shasavic (Safcyk), Faentian (Fēntā), and Lisatopian (Lisatopa), are described in their YouTube video Ch.2 / Constructed Languages. Most of their videos are narrated in Shasavic, with subtitles in English and Japanese. Lisatopian was created for language study using computers.
Shasavistic music theory
They describe Shasavistic music theory in their YouTube playlist titled 微分音理論 / Microtonal theory. It is recorded and illustrated in Shasavic with optional English and Japanese closed captions.
Dimensions
A key concept in Shasavistic theory is the idea of dimensions, which are different prime numbers in the harmonic series. Here are the first few dimensions:
| Dimension | Prime number | Associated ratio | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1D | 2 | 2/1 | Octave |
| 2D | 3 | 3/2 | Just perfect fifth |
| 3D | 5 | 5/4 | Major third |
| 4D | 7 | 7/4 | Septimal minor seventh |
| 5D | 11 | 11/4 | Undecimal superfourth (plus one octave) |
(Note that 5D is typically voiced at the higher octave to avoid the clash between 11/8 and 3/2.)
A ratio can be thought of as a location in infinite-dimensional space, where each dimension corresponds to a prime number (positive movement being multiplication, and negative movement being division). In this way it is similar to monzo notation.
Chordonyms
Chordonyms (Shasavic: Nafchaclap /nəfxəkləp/) are the system for referring to chords in Shasavistic theory. Chordonyms are formed out of the harmononyms for each note, in order. Harmononyms are a solmization system based on these ratios. Harmononyms represent movement in different dimensions (excluding 1D due to octave equivalency) to create the names for notes. Harmononyms and their ratios can be explored at the web app Chalaxata (UI in Japanese).
Here are some harmononyms (Ah is the root)
| Dimension | Amount of movement | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -3 | -2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2D | Ju | Schu | Fu | Ah | Chy | Scy | Xcy |
| 3D | Srvu | Sru | Su | Ah | Ly | Dry | Drvy |
| 4D | Prvu | Pru | Pu | Ah | My | Mry | Mrvy |
| 5D | Krvu | Kru | Tschu | Ah | Zy | Zry | Zrvy |
| 6D | Grvau | Grau | Gnau | Ah | Gnay | Gray | Grvay |
Harmononyms can indicate movement in more than one dimension simultaneously. For example, 15/8 is 3/2 times 5/4, or Chy + Ly, so it is called Chyli. 11/6 is 2/3 times 11/4, or Fu + Zy, so it is called Fuzi. (Note that the final Y in "Zy" is replaced with an I, which becomes silent.) 6/5 is 3/2 times 4/5, or Chy + Su, so it is called Chys. (Note that the U in "Su" is removed.)
Chordonyms are created by combining multiple harmonyms. These harmonyms are arranged according to these rules (in order of priority):
- Pitches whose highest dimensions are lower go first.
- Pitches reached with a lower number of dimensions go first.
- Pitches reached with ascents go before pitches reached with descents. (Lower dimensions get higher priority.)
- Pitches reached with fewer ascents and descents go first.
A chord including Ah, Chy, and Zy would be called AhChyZy. A chord including Ah, Ly, Chy, and Chyli would be called AhChyLyChyli.
Chord diagrams
Chord diagrams (Shasavic: Nafchalica /nəfxəlʲkə/) are a system for representing chords. Pitches are represented by horizontal white lines and steps in different dimensions are represented by different lines.
| Dimension | Color | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2D | Red | Left |
| 3D | Green | Right |
| 4D | Purple | Diagonal (bottom-left to top-right) |
| 5D | Orange | Diagonal (bottom-right to top-left) |
On the right is an example of a chord diagram. From bottom to top, the pitches are Ah (root, identified by the triangle pointing at it), Ly (5/4), Chy (3/2), Fuzi (11/6), Scy (9/4), Zy (11/4), and Xcy (27/8).
Chord diagrams do not typically indicate voicing or octave doubling of pitches.
Original music
Their xenharmonic compositions are listenable in their YouTube playlist titled 微分音作品 / Microtonal works.
Stephen Weigel's transcription of L4MPLIGHT's introductory composition is viewable on YouTube here.