Theory IV

Dr. Ro
ATONALITY BASIC TERMINOLOGY
Pitch refers to the frequency of a note. Every note on the piano is a different pitch
because no two frequencies are the same. Therefore, A440 and A220 are different pitches
despite both being As.
Octave Equivalence is a theory that groups all pitches related by octaves into a single
pitch class.
Pitch Class refers to all pitches of the same alphabet name (and enharmonic spellings)
regardless of register (octave position). Therefore, all Cs, Dbbs, and B#s belong to the
same pitch class.
Pitch-Class Set refers to an unordered collection of pitch classes. Pitch-class sets are the
basic building blocks of much music of the post-tonal era.
Integer Notation and Pitch Class pitch classes are usually designated by integer
numbers rather than their conventional alphabet letters in post-tonal analysis. In a fixed
0 system, 0 is used to represent pitch-class C. In turn, 1 = C#/Db, 2 = D, 3 = D#/Eb, etc.
Each integer represents the number of half steps above C. Because the number 10 could
be misinterpreted as the numbers 1 and 0, pc10, Bb, is usually represented by the letter
t. Similarly, pc11, B, is represented by the letter e. An alternate designation for these
two pitch classes uses the letters A and B for pc10 and pc11, respectively.
Integer Notation and Interval Class interval classes are also designated according to
integer numbers with the integer representing the number of half steps in the interval
class. Therefore, the minor second and its inversion the major seventh are designated as
interval class 1, or ic1. The major second and its inversion the minor seventh are
designated as ic2, etc.
Modulus 12 (Mod 12) a mathematical term denoting absolute value. This is essential
to set theory because the chromatic scale contains a limited number of pitch classes 12.
Therefore, a modulus of 12 (mod12) must be used when making calculations. For
instance, if we transpose the set [0,2,3,7] by T7, i.e., by a perfect fifth, then the resulting
set will be [7,9,t,14]. The modulus will reduce all integers above 11 by subtracting 12
from them. Therefore, 14 would be reduced to 2.
Invariant pitch classes are those members of a set that are retained when a set undergoes
some type of transformation, i.e. transposition, inversion, etc. For instance, pc (pitchclass) G is invariant among the pitch-class sets [C,E,G] and [Eb,G,Bb].
Normal Form (or Normal Order) is a way of organizing the members of a pitch-class
set so that the set appears in its most compact form. This method of organization makes it
possible to recognize relationships between pitch-class sets more readily.

Theory IV
Dr. Ro
Interval Class refers an unordered pitch-class interval. As a result of octave equivalence,
no distinction is made between minor thirds and minor tenths. Additionally, because of
inversional equivalence, minor thirds and their inversions, major sixths, are grouped in
the same interval class. Therefore, the largest interval class is the tritone, with all larger
intervals being categorized with their inversions.
Best Normal Order is the generic representation of all the possible transpositions and
inversions of a set. (Kostka) This ordering considers both the original set and its
inversion when determining the most compact form.
Integer Notation and Pitch Class pitch classes are usually designated by integer
numbers rather than their conventional alphabet letters in post-tonal analysis. In a fixed
0 system, 0 is used to represent pitch-class C. In turn, 1 = C#/Db, 2 = D, 3 = D#/Eb, etc.
Each integer represents the number of half steps above C. Because the number 10 could
be misinterpreted as the numbers 1 and 0, pc10, Bb, is usually represented by the letter
t. Similarly, pc11, B, is represented by the letter e. An alternate designation for these
two pitch classes uses the letters A and B for pc10 and pc11, respectively.
Set Class refers to all pitch-class sets that share similar best normal orders, i.e., identical
intervallic relationships between set members. Therefore, the sets [2,4,6, t] and [5,7,9, 1]
which are transpositionally equivalent belong to the same set class.
Prime Form expresses the best normal order of a set using integers so that similar-type
set-classes are readily apparent. In prime form all sets are transposed to begin with 0.
Therefore, the set [D, E, F#, Bb], which can also be expressed as [2,4,6,t], will have a
prime form of [0,2,4,8]. By reducing a set to its prime form we can easily categorize set
classes, i.e., [0,1,6], [0,3,6,9], [0,1,2,4,7,8], etc., much in the same way that we categorize
diatonic triads as major, minor, diminished, etc. in tonal music.
Interval Vector (or Interval-Class Vector) is a catalog of the intervallic relationships
among members of a set. This information is useful when comparing different set classes.