Varse: Hyperprism

A guide to pitch and timber analysis of wind instruments section.

Didier Guigue 1998

The twelve-tones chromatic scale is splitted into four symmetry axis of a Major 7th around Bb, C#, E
and G, respectively. The 1st axis (Bb) is quite constant.

Pitch classes stats:

Bb is the most frequent pitch.

c = 7
c#/db = 8
d = 7
eb = 7
e = 8
f = 7
f# = 6
g = 5
g#/ab = 4
a = 6
bb = 10
b = 6

Sonic articulation in Hyperprism

Each axis is assigned a color.

Each of the appearances of the four pitch axis (with or without their two symmetrical pitches) is linked to
a new sonic context. There is no repetition of a single sonority on the same pitch axis.
As an example, the sonic articulation of the 'c#' axis is shown.

listen to Hyperprism