The Mathematical Theory of Tone Systems patterns a unified theory defining the tone system in functional terms based on the principles and forms of uncertainty theory. This title uses geometrical nets and other measures to study all classes of used and theoretical tone systems, from Pythagorean tuning to superparticular pentatonics. Hundreds of examples of past and prevalent tone systems are featured. Topics include Fuzziness and Sonance, Wavelets and Nonspecificity, Pitch Granulation and Ambiguity, Equal Temperaments, Mean Tone Systems. Well Tempered Systems, Ptolemy Systems, and more. Appendices include extended lists of tone systems and a catalogue of historical organs with subsemitones.

This book explores the interaction between music and mathematics including harmony, symmetry, digital music and perception of sound.

With contributions by numerous experts

Musical Mathematics is the definitive tome for the adventurous musician. Integrating mathematics, music history, and hands-on experience, this volume serves as a comprehensive guide to the tunings and scales of acoustic instruments from around the world. Author, composer, and builder Cris Forster illuminates the mathematical principles of acoustic music, offering practical information and new discoveries about both traditional and innovative instruments.With this knowledge readers can improve, or begin to build, their own instruments inspired by Forster's creationsshown in 16 color plates. For those ready to step outside musical conventions and those whose curiosity about the science of sound is never satisfied, Musical Mathematics is the map to a new musical world.

Questions about variation, similarity, enumeration, and classification of musical structures have long intrigued both musicians and mathematicians. Mathematical models can be found from theoretical analysis to actual composition or sound production. Increasingly in the last few decades, musical scholarship has incorporated modern mathematical content. One example is the application of methods from Algebraic Combinatorics, or Topology and Graph Theory, to the classification of different musical objects. However, these applications of mathematics in the understanding of music have also led to interesting open problems in mathematics itself.The reach and depth of the contributions on mathematical music theory presented in this volume is significant. Each contribution is in a section within these subjects: (i) Algebraic and Combinatorial Approaches; (ii) Geometric, Topological, and Graph-Theoretical Approaches; and (iii) Distance and Similarity Measures in Music.