Pitch Class Set Theory Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is octave equivalence?

Notes in different octaves that have the same letter names share those names because we sense there's something 'the same' about them.

What is enharmonic equivalence?

These chords retain their identities regardless of how their notes are spelled.

What is a pitch class?

A class or category of pitches that share octave and enharmonic equivalences.

How many pitch classes are there in Western music?

12 Signup and view all the answers

What is transpositional equivalence?

The same complex of intervals, simply strung onto different sets of notes. Signup and view all the answers

What is prime form labeling?

The labeling system for any sets that are transpositionally equivalent. Signup and view all the answers

To find a prime form set label you should ______.

<ol> <li>Find the set's normal order 2. Compare the set with its inversion 3. Assign the numbers of the prime form label</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is inversional equivalence?

Any sequence of intervals read from lowest to highest is 'the same' as that sequence read from highest to lowest. Signup and view all the answers

What is the convention in pitch-class theory to find the best single label? ______

Whenever two candidates for the 'best' arrangement of a set have the same outer interval, select the version with the larger 'gap' at the top of the set. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fundamental Concepts of Pitch Class Set Theory

Octave Equivalence: Relates to how notes with the same letter names across different octaves are perceived as similar.
Enharmonic Equivalence: Refers to chords maintaining their identity regardless of note spelling; they sound identical but may have different notations.
Pitch Class: A category of pitches that includes notes which are octave and enharmonically equivalent, defining a set of related sounds.

Pitch Class Details

Total Pitch Classes: Western music encompasses 12 distinct pitch classes, corresponding to the keys on a keyboard that separate octave-equivalent notes.
Transpositional Equivalence: Identifies the same sequence of intervals applied to different note sets, demonstrating the flexibility in representation while keeping the interval structure intact.

Prime Form and Labeling

Prime Form Labels: A systematic way to label pitch sets that are transpositionally equivalent, providing a unique identifier for each set.
Determining Prime Form Set Label:
- Identify the set's normal order.
- Assess the set alongside its inversion.
- Assign the appropriate numbers corresponding to the prime form label.

Additional Concepts

Inversional Equivalence: Indicates the idea that an interval sequence remains unchanged when read in reverse order, maintaining the same relationships between the notes.
Label Convention: When selecting the best label for a pitch-class set, if two labels have the same outer interval, preference is given to the one with a larger gap between the highest two notes, thus highlighting distinct tonal qualities.

Description

Explore essential concepts in pitch class set theory with these flashcards. Each card provides a term along with its definition, focusing on key ideas such as octave equivalence and enharmonic equivalence. Perfect for music theory students looking to deepen their understanding.