THE
OCTAVE AS FRACTAL NUMERIC OBJECT
B. SVAROG *
The scriptures of quantum evolution was
recorded in a language of numbers at the origin moment of our
Universe
Timothy Leary‚ The History of Future
An Octave is a main musical term which marks a coincidence
of sounds‚ which frequencies correlate as 2:1.
Together with that octave is
"eight" (in Greek ὀκτώ).
It’s not difficult to understand‚ that the main characteristic
of a consonance is two sounds with ratio
of frequencies 2:1 which is incorporated in the nature of a harmonic
curve: its full period (2p) contains two
half-phases (p)‚ in two full periods four half-phases and so on‚
what gives under these conditions a
coincidence of fluctuations in phase points:
Together with that a harmonic curve describes oscillation - a simplest type of motion in nature, and
mathematically is an elementary periodical function: the curves of other
dependencies may to be reduced to sums of the infinite line of harmonicas.
How does the division of interval maximum consonance appear
in music 2 - octave - into intermediate
intervals? The answer to this question is kept in ancient histories known in
musical building as quint system‚ also named after Pythagoras. It
has historically occurred‚ that all things are to be found in Greece‚ however
there are no grounds to suppose‚ that its principle was not mentioned earlier
in Egypt‚ Babylon‚ India and
String fluctuations generate partial tones (overtones) which correlate as round
numbers 1:2:3:4:5... The quint
division is based on the second harmonic and following the octave consonance
with ratio of frequencies 3:2. How it is
proved by experience with strings of different length‚ the simpler in the
numeric expression is this ratio‚ the more pleasing are their fluctuations to
hear and the fuller is the synergy (phenomena of resonance) between them.
Let’s name an octave interval do - do1. The step‚ referring to the tonic do with frequency 3:2
is identified as quint
and is traditionally marked sol. From
the determination of the interval of an octave follows, that the ratio of upper
do1 to the sol will make herewith 4:3‚
and this harmonic ratio is known as a quart
or a turn quint. If we make three strings sound‚
adjusted in do‚ sol and do1
simultaneously‚ then, immediately three intervals, an octave 2:1‚ quint 3:2 and quart 4:3 will be present in a chord. The
ancient knew‚ that quint and quart are reversible,
that is to say symmetrical comparatively to octaves‚ and if sol is a quint
to do‚ than fa is a quint
to do1‚ and back fa comparatively
to do forms a quart‚ but sol is a quart to do1.
This proportion can be presented in the manner: do:
fa: sol : do1 = 1: 4/3 :
3/2 : 2‚ and it means the first harmonic pattern of an octave, the
so-called adjustment of an Orpheus harp. The present expression contains all
known in antiquities correlations like arithmetical, geometric and harmonic
proportions, as well as the principle of gold section. Its two average members
are herewith correlating as 9:8‚ that is to say form an interval of a natural whole tone of Fig. 2. Thereby‚ adjustment of Orpheus harp means an algorithm (gnomon)‚ by means of which on the grounds of the correlation of the
first four members of natural row (Greek τετραξ) all musical
grades are to be established.
How is this possible? The following building is well
familiar to musicians as "quint circle".
In order that a quint of the first four-in-hands, in
its turn, forms an octave‚ it is sufficiently to double the length of a
corresponding string. The Quart in the
octave sol-sol1 remains do1‚
but the quint becomes step re1:
If we take fa in the octave do-do1 as a grade with the value 1‚ than a quint from fa to do1
= 1 x 3/2 = 3/2 we are to lower twice‚ so that it would come to one octave with fa‚ coinciding with a tonic do:
do
= 3/2 : 2 = 3/4.
Then sol is
defined as a second quint from the value of do 3/4:
sol
= 3/4 x 3/2 = 9/8.
Further‚ re1
is a quint from the sol:
re1 = 9/8 x 3/2 =
27/16‚ and value 27/16 also must be reduced twice‚ as far as the newly received
grade has exceeded an upper border of the octave do1:
re = 27/16 : 2 = 27/32.
Between do and re, as well as between fa and sol lies an interval of a whole tone: 27/32
: 3/4 = 9/8.
The fourth quint, on the count, is
built from the step re:
27/32
x 3/2= 81/64,
and carries the name la‚ relates to the same octave:
Between la and sol there is an interval of a whole
tone:
81/64 : 9/8 = 9/8.
The fifth on the count quint (mi) is built from la:
81/64 x 3/2 = 243/128‚
and must fall in one octave
with la:
mi = 243/128 : 2 = 243/256.
Mi forms a whole
tone gap with re:
243/256
: 27/32 = 9/8.
The sixth on the count quint‚
which is built from the note mi and
lies in one and the same with her octave‚ is identified as si:
si = 243/256 x 3/2 = 729/512.
Between la and si there is also an interval of a
whole tone:
729/512 : 81/64 = 9/8.
We see‚ that a quint algorithm
acts absolutely automatically and uniformly.
The results received are brought together in Table 1.
The two last quint steps mi and si have formed new intervals
inside the octave: ratio
fa /
mi
1 : 243/256 = 256/243, and
do1 / si 3/4 : 729/512 = 256/243 correspond to an
interval of leymma‚
named otherwise semitone.
Leymma – in Greek is
"impassability"‚ and means a cessation of filling an octave gap by
intervals in whole tone. Really‚ the interval 2 (octave) can contain only 5 intervals 9/8 and 2 intervals
256/243:
(9/8)5 x (256/243)2
= 2.
Such natural filling of an octave gap (2) by whole tone intervals with
formation of seven-step sequence tone-tone-s/ò-tone-tone-tone-s/ò is
identified as a diatonic (major) gamma of main musical notes:
Six
intervals (31- 36) of Tables 1‚
received by 1-6 quints (as well as their turning‚
complementing them for the octave) contain a base to all musical buildings. The
turn prima (30)
corresponds to the octave (2) itself.
Continuation of the quint
algorithm will force new steps to “wedge” into whole tone gaps between the main
notes:
VII quint
is 36/29 x 3/2 = 37/210, as far as
it falls on the above octave (exceeding value do1=3/2), this number must be divided by 2, that gives 37/211;
VIII quint
37/211 õ 3/2 = 38/212 >3/2, so 38/212
: 2 = 38/213;
IX quint
38/213 õ 3/2 = 39/214;
X quint
39/214 õ 3/2 = 310/215>3/2,
so 310/215 : 2 = 310/216;
XI quint 310/216 õ 3/2 = 311/217;
XII quint 311/217
õ
3/2 = 312/218>3/2, so 312/218 :
2 = 312/219.
All the following steps after the first seven (formed from 0
to 6 quint) are marked as changed (increased or
lowered) main notes. The seventh quint is a semitone
lower (28/35) to sol:
32/23 : 28/35 = 37/211,
so it is identified a sol-flat (solb).
The eighth quint is lowered by the semitone re, since 33/25 :
28/35 = 38/213‚ and corresponds to reb.
The ninth is also exactly - lab (34/26 : 28/35
= 39/214), the tenth - mib
(35/28:28/35=310/216),
the eleventh - sib
(36/29 : 28/35 = 311/217).
At last, the twelfth quint falls on a lowered
half-tone interval of the seventh, as far as 37/211 (solb):
28/35 = 312/219. Following the
accepted indication we are to note this step as a sol‚ twice lowered by the semitone (solbb).
In Pythagorean natural build two semitones (copy-flat) do
not give in the interval an equally whole tone (28/35 õ 28/35
= 216/310 < 9/8)‚ so the last grade does not
comply with fa
¹1 - its value is not in accuracy 1‚ that is to say, it is
not equal to the interval of prima (312/219=531441/524288
=1.0136432 >1)‚ but it exceeds it by
the value of Pythagorean comma (marked
by us as D).
Hence‚
the twelfth quint upwards from the initial step
generates a new small interval 312/219
in fà ¹ 13
(Fig.
5)‚ numerically corresponding to a difference of the whole tone (9/8)
with two semitones 32/23 :
(28/35)2 = 312/219,
that makes approximately 1/8,69 of a whole tone (in other words, 1.01364328,69
= 9/8). The formation of micro intervals ("commas") in a quint build creates a numerical basis of the system of natural micro chromatics. The full
filling of an interval of an octave with intensified steps gives a natural (12
or 17-step) chromatic gamma - Figs. 6‚7. Thus, the ascending quints
(clockwise a circle) form flat notes ()‚ and
the descending (counter-clockwise) - increased notes (#).
It is obvious‚ that the quint
process is not limited by that. If it is to be continued‚ all steps with quints upwards will be repeated with raising by comma (+D) with each coil of a spiral‚ and when moving quints downwards
(consequent values are multiplied by 2/3‚ and also are resulted in an initial
octave) with decrease (−D) in each cycle of twelve.
We let the reader check it personally. Iterative division of a piece do-dî1 by harmonious numbers
is infinite‚ and the concurrence of position of two various numbers never
occurs.
We shall note the basic moments‚ invariant for
the concrete values received by a quint algorithm - it's sufficient that their numbers went in consequent
order**:
1. Each 12 consecutively
taken numbers form a natural chromatic
gamma with the subdivision of an octave into 12 semitones
- Fig. 6;
2. 17 consistently taken steps form a 17-step chromatic scale of 12-
semitone intervals with enharmonically unequal raised and lowered steps‚
divided by comma intervals (D) - Fig. 7;
3. Each
thirteenth step in the period of 12 quints locks
the octave cycle‚ generating a shift by microtone
interval ("comma"D) - Fig. 5;
4. Every diameter‚
conducted through the opposite steps of 12-sectioned circle‚ marks an axis of mirror symmetry and two
poles‚ comparatively to which the binary
pattern of Octave (Figs 4‚9) is shown;
5. Each 7 following on the
order numbers, separated by the diameter
(Figs. 10) form a seven-step (diatonic) gamma with five whole tone and two
semitone gaps of one of seven accepted in antiquity tunes (or corresponding them tonality),
that means septenary pattern of Octave:
6. All the above said
characteristics are determined by a pentatonic (quinary) octave cycle: five quints upwards result in reduction of a source note by a
semitone‚ or rising by semitone when moving a quint
downwards - Figs. 5‚8;
7. Further on‚ a duodecimal
order is divided into "quadrants"
and "trigones" of small and big
tierces‚ used in the music as the base of its accord and harmonic building - Fig. 11;
8. And finally‚ all above
described properties come from the
relation of odd and even (3n : 2m)‚
originally lain in a quint algorithm (Figs.
6,9). The Octave as an abstract
object does not depend on the nature of a sound, and we have the right to
consider it as a manifestation of the law
of numbers. Similar principles of
numeric organization are also found in DNA - a universal life code.
The presence of commas in a quint
circle has been known for years and served a constant irritating factor for
musical theorists. The formation in the natural build gammas with
comma-displaced notes seemed to them inconvenient‚ as well as the fact that an
octave is not closed, and two natural semitones do not compose in accuracy a
whole tone. Already a Greek philosopher Àristoxen‚ a pupil of Aristotle‚ offered a temperation
or fission of the octave into equal intervals. But this rationalistic idea was
realized only in the second half of XVII
century‚ when each semitone has been declared equal exactly 100 cents‚ or. This enables‚ infinitely
rising on the stairway of quints‚ unchangeably to go
back to its beginning‚ as we can see on the engraving by Ìauriz Escher‚ and what is proved by Johann-Sebastian Bach’s
îrgan compositions - Pic.1.
But those who stood closer to the bases of the quint system‚ could clearly realize its fractal
possibility, the prove of this is found in Plato’s Thimeus (36).
Let us continue iterations whorl by whorl in the duodecimal
circle. It is not difficult to make sure‚ that in the fifth circle there will
be an increase by 4 commas‚ that exceeds an interval of a semitone (3.85 D). Then a quint step ¹54 =12õ4+6 mi will become a semitone higher‚ that
is to say "will be turned" into fa‚ and a quint
spiral will cross itself for the second
time (first rapprochement we saw in ¹13).
At that time‚ as shows a calculation‚ the "join" is more full - a new microinterval (s) is 6.5 times less than a Pythagorean comma (D)‚ but "spiral"
whorls have become much broader.
Continuing from new values we have the right to expect‚ that
in the seventh circle of a cycle in 53 quints incrementations are
reached value D‚ and once again the "join" will occur with
the value ¹ 1 fa. Herewith, the step ¹54 + 53x6
= ¹372 will reach (and will exceed by some microtone fission) value of ¹13 faD. If ¹13 comes in compliance with ¹ 372‚ than ¹1‚
obviously‚ answers 372-12 = ¹ 360‚ so the following "return" occurs on this number
exactly‚ as evidenced by computer modeling of Pythagorean harmonic numbers.
Not
being afraid to bore a reader‚ we do not refuse the pleasure to conduct a
calculation "on fingers" of the following join. As far as the
interval of octave 2 contains 51 microtones of I order plus one microtone of II order‚ than incrementations of commas with each 12-step cycle for 51õ12=612
numbers will cover an interval in 51D‚ but for getting a small
interval s‚ as we know‚ we need another period of 53 quints. Having added to ¹1ôà
51 cycles of 12 numbers each and one of 53 numbers‚ we get sought for a step
¹1+612+53 = ¹666 - the closest value after 1 amongst more than 16000 harmonic
numbers (its interval forms 1/15878 part of an octave) - Fig. 12. So‚ being busy with wholly
harmless deal‚ we, by accident have touched an "eschatology" subject.
54 is an amount of "double and
triple numbers"‚ provided in Òhimeus as a base of dividing the Octave of Cosmos:
360 is well known too - degrees of circumference are counted like this so
far, but why is a «number of Antichrist" mentioned in this case? Answer
can be concluded in the fact that 666 is no less suitable than other patterns
of an Octave available for presentation of temporal
cycles:
"making the sky, He creates an
eternal image, moving from a number to a number, which we have named time"
(Thimeus‚
36b).
Time is the "matter" - both usual and odd - on the affirmation of all mystics it is a principle
of fractal multiplication of the uniform Being.
Each of
Octave periods corresponds to a gamma with the appropriating microtone fission‚
supporting the main fractal property, creates cycles inward cycles‚ repeating
again and again the same numeric patterns in the top-down order of scales‚ like
well-known fractal of Mandelbrot. In this sense we are to speak of
"internal octaves"‚ put one in another in the same way as matrioshkas. The period in 665 quints
performs as a distinctive attractor‚ repeating the initial drawing of twelve
steps in its interval - Fig. 13.
Periods of higher orders may be represented by uppers as
forming modules‚ where the connecting link is a cycle of 665:
At the end of XVI century
a French scientist Zhozef Skaliger has conceived
to create a chronology‚ which
was in the
best way coordinated with the astronomical and historical data at that
moment‚ and has offered the
so-called Julian period in 7980 years‚ having got
just "in the bull's eye"
as far as
Skaliger era is still, by
the way, being used in
chronological calculations‚
- is just based on
the period 665 (7980 = 665 õ 12).
Scaliger‚ as well as
Saint Johann has hardly ever
based on the direct knowledge
of the Octave‚
but its traces
go much deeper.
Carrying the name of Pythagoras
the quint system, in terms
of the depth
of its generality
is an immortal
monument, as well as a
universal code of mankind: even
if to assume‚
that the knowledge of it
would be ever lost‚ it
inevitably would be re-opened again.
The strange "mystical" principles put by the
ancient in the bases of
the nature and used in
astrology and the count of
time - pair jin-jang, three gunas‚ five
elements‚ eight directions and twelve signs of
Zodiac‚ Chinese sexagenary cycle‚ mysterious I ching‚ Zolkin of ancient
Maya and Indian eras - all of
them anyhow find in the
Octave their numerical prototype.
2005 © B.Svarog
* All rights reserved. On the book
material of B.Svarog "The Move of
Night Sun" /is offered to publishing/.
** Notice‚ that in this system we get
intervals accurate to turning (2)‚ and their defining features
depends on exponent index at the number 3.
So‚ is quint and its vice versa is a quart‚ - whole tone and minor septima e.c. Any step can emerge lower and upper border
corresponding to octave interval.