Techniques of Polytempic Polymicrotonal Composition: Division of the Whole Tone, part VII
What is a Whole Tone, and Why Divide It? Anaximander Anaximander believed in a concept called " unity ," wherein infinite divisions were possible, and apparently, this philosophy included divisions of musical intervals, such as the tone. Aristoxenus was also an advocate of this philosophical standpoint. "All and innumerable worlds are infinite in possible harmonies." Conventional wisdom states that a whole tone is composed of two semitones that range from ratios 11:10, at 165 cents, all the way through 8:7, at 234 cents. Generally, the ratio 9/8 is the most accepted version at 204 cents. If we are not speaking about rational tunings or string lengths from the monochord , then we are referring to 12tet, where the whole tone is simply 200 cents. Although I went through a bit of the history of tuning in my thesis, Polytempic Polymicrotonal Music: the road less traveled, 2012, I just want to discuss my personal thoughts on pitch. I am not a tuning/temperament ...