Site
description
This
site presents a collection of practical and theoretical material
related to the Bohlen-Pierce scale (BP scale). BP is a harmonic,
non-octave scale; its 13 tone steps span the framework of the
twelfth (3:1). It is meant to permit creation and performance
of harmonic music in tonal relations that are different from those
of traditional scales. So far, there are only rudimentary approaches
available to a tonal understanding of this scale. Instruments
that can play it (except synthesizers) are few, but their number
is growing fast. A considerable body of compositions exists, and
some related literature is at hand.
BP is often called a "tuning", but it may be important to realize that it cannot be counted among the many tunings of the traditional Western scale. It is a musical scale in its own right, in far-reaching duality to the Western scale. It is in need of its own theory, and it has already begun to spawn its own tunings.
The aim of this site is to provide a place where interested people can find facts, thoughts and ideas related to BP. Connected to this home page are other pages (see side bar) that are dedicated to specific issues. Their number and content have been growing over the last years and will continue to do so. The collection is arranged in a rather accidental manner; it is not at all comprehensive and its view is probably fairly subjective.
ATTENTION: This is a quasi "historic" website, first launched in the mid 1990s. It is now under maintenance only, i.e. up-to-date information can no longer be expected.
Elaine Walker's "The Bohlen-Pierce Scale"
Kees
van Prooijen's "13 tones in the 3rd harmonic"
Bohlen-Pierce Clarinet Project at Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hamburg, Germany
Bohlen-Pierce Clarinet Project by Stephen Fox, Ontario, Canada
tranSpectra Collective, Ontario, Canada
Bohlen-Pierce Clarinet Project by Nora-Louise Mueller
Interval gestalt and harmonic scales
An unorthodox
look at consonance
Tristan,
Terhardt, and the Tritave
Other Unusual
Scales
An 833 cents scale
On "Pythagorean"
Scale Derivation
(presenting thoughts
that lead to a 47-step division of the double octave)
Joe Monzo's "Definitions of Tuning Terms"
The following sites offer, besides valuable information, lots of interesting links. It is in the nature of the beast that many of them are broken.
Sebastian Bradt's "Collected Websites on Microtonality"
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