Modeling and Measuring of the Oriental Musical Scale

Author: Rabbaa, Ahmed

Source: Acta Acustica united with Acustica, Volume 92, Number 5, September/October 2006 , pp. 807-811(5)

Publisher: S. Hirzel Verlag

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Abstract:

After a brief survey of the western system, we present a study of the oriental musical scale, based on the (diatonic) models built by European mathematicians. The main feature being the presence of the three-quarter-tone interval or medium third, we explain why a modeling by an equal-tempered scale of 24 quarter-tones of exactly 50 cents is not suitable. Our model starts with a combination of equal and pythagorean scales, displayed as a series of whole-tone and ¾-tone intervals. Practical music performance on lute and violin, when measured, show current pitches higher than equal-tempered theory would suggest. Some empirical adjustments of about 15 cents were needed to reach these practical pitches. Checking of some of the most common oriental keyboards proves that their ¾-tones are not in good accordance with real performance.

Document Type: Research article

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