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Web place of an alternative harmonic scale |
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 fill 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.
Nevertheless, a score 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 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 probably fairly subjective in view.
BP History, Literature and Compositions
The early history of BP
"I
think he was investigating other things"
A
collection of BP-related literature
Early
compositions in BP
The
first live BP concerts
Bare
Bones BP
(containing
tone and interval names and definitions, just for reference)
BP Scale Structures
1. Chromatic BP scales
Development
of the chromatic scale
A
"Pythagorean" approach
The
equally tempered scale
Erlich's
Triple BP Scale
The
271 tone BP scale
Continued
Fractions and BP
2. Diatonic BP scales
The
basic diatonic scale
Diatonic
modes and scale variants
Fokker
lattice representation of BP
John
"Longitude" Harrison and BP
What
about BP tonality?
BP Interval Properties
Tritave
BP
intervals
Enharmonics
Pentachords
BP
Tuning and Instruments
Notation
Pitch
correlation
Just
intonation, equal temperament, or...?
Tuning
synthesizers to BP
The
first BP instrument
A
BP guitar
BP
clarinets
A
BP metallophone
Link:
Stephen Fox' BP clarinet project
Link:
Jean Pierre Poulin's electrical BP guitar
Elaine
Walker's Bohlen-Pierce Site
Kees van Prooijen's Scale13 Site
More Unusual Scales
Unusual non-BP scales
The
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"
Margo Schulter's "On Pythagorean Tuning"
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.
John Starrett's "Microtonal Music Page"
Dante Rosati's "Harmonic Theory and Just
Intonation"
Sebastian
Bradt's "Collected Websites on Microtonality"
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