Microtonality in music refers to the use of intervals smaller than a semitone, which allows for a wider range of tonal colours and expressive possibilities beyond the traditional Western tuning system of twelve equal intervals per octave. By using microtones, composers and performers can explore a variety of new tonalities and create music that is more nuanced and rich in timbre. Microtonality has a long history in music, with examples found in various cultures and traditions around the world. For instance, many non-Western musical systems, such as those found in Middle Eastern, Indian, and African music, incorporate microtones as an integral part of their tuning and tonal systems. In Western music, microtonality has been used by composers throughout history, from the medieval and Renaissance periods to contemporary music.

 

 

Description

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Opusmodus microtonal system supports GM, MTS (MIDI Tuning Standard) and Pitch-Bend via Ports. MTS is a specification of precise musical pitch agreed to by the MIDI Manufacturers Association in the MIDI protocol. MTS allows for both a bulk tuning dump message, giving a tuning for each of 128 notes, and a tuning message for individual notes as they are played.

 

GM (Internal sound)

---

GM does not need any specific setup.

 

(def-score mts-gm
           (:key-signature 'chromatic
            :tempo '(q 60)
            :time-signature '(4 4))
  (inst :omn '(s c4 c4+. c4+ c4+.. cs4 cs4+. cs4+ cs4+..
               d4 d4+. d4+ d4+.. eb4 eb4+. eb4+ eb4+.. e4)
        :channel 1
        :sound 'gm
        :program 0))

 

Virtual Instrument with MTS support
Virtual Instrument requires 1 port only.

 

(def-score mts-vi
           (:key-signature 'chromatic
            :tempo '(q 60)
            :time-signature '(4 4))
  (inst :omn '(s c4 c4+. c4+ c4+.. cs4 cs4+. cs4+ cs4+..
               d4 d4+. d4+ d4+.. eb4 eb4+. eb4+ eb4+.. e4)
        :port 0
        :channel 1
        :sound 'gm
        :program 0))

 

Vienna Instruments, Pianoteq, possibly a few more.

 

Virtual Instrument with Pitch-Bend instead of MTS

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Quarter-tone

To use Pitch-Bend instead of MTS would require at least 2 ports. In your DAW, you need to set up 2 ports for each channel.

 

(def-score quarter-tone
           (:key-signature 'chromatic
            :tempo '(q 60)
            :time-signature '(4 4))
  (inst :omn '(s c4 c4+ cs4 cs4+ d4 d4+ eb4 eb4+ e4)
        :port '(0 1)
        :channel 1
        :sound 'gm
        :program 0))

Eighth-tone

The eighth-tone score requires at least 4 ports. In your DAW, you need to set up 4 ports for each channel.

 

(def-score eighth-tone
           (:key-signature 'chromatic
            :tempo '(q 60)
            :time-signature '(4 4))
  (inst :omn '(s c4 c4+. c4+ c4+.. cs4 cs4+. cs4+ cs4+..
               d4 d4+. d4+ d4+.. eb4 eb4+. eb4+ eb4+.. e4)
        :port '(0 1 2 3)
        :channel 1
        :sound 'gm
        :program 0))

 

Examples

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Fragmente-Stille, An Diotima, Violin 1 (fragement, 1979-1980)
 

'((-h reh+rehn-26 e b4-e4+ ppp ten+norm+arco - -q)
  (-q -e cs6+e6+ ten e6+b6- leg fs4+e5+ cs4 stacc+ten -)
  (-q z^q c5+e5+ s c4 ten -e. q fs5e6 ten+leg e e6+d7+ ten -)
  (-h e fs5+e6+ ten+stacc cs5+e5+cs6 ten+stacc cs5+ ten+stacc -)
  (-q -e c5c6-e6- ten fs6+e7+ leg e6bb6 leg cs5+ > leg c6e6 > e4+b4- > ten+stacc -)
  (e d5-e5+ pppp marc d5-e5+ marc -q bl-ll)
  (-e reh cs5+d5 sff mart+arco mf mart cs5+d5 mart -q)
  (-q -5q 5w cs6+e6+ mf<fff ponte+comma q ppp norm+fermata-vl
   5q mf> mart > dbow p mart -5h fermata-vl)))

 

 

 

 
Micropolyphony
 

(micropolyphony
 8 20 1/4 3
 :intervals '(-2 -1 2 -.5 .5 1.5 -1.5 -.25 1.25 -1.25)
 :quantize '(1 2 4 5)
 :direction '((12 8) (8 12))
 :direction-start '(a d a d a a d a)
 :start '(c4 c4+ fs3 as2+ b3+ b3 e3+ c3)
 :index 'v
 )

(setf
 sop1 (ambitus 'soprano v1)
 sop2 (ambitus 'soprano v2)
 alto1 (ambitus 'alto v3)
 alto2 (ambitus 'alto v4)
 tenor1 (ambitus 'tenor v5)
 tenor2 (ambitus 'tenor v6)
 bass1 (ambitus 'bass v7)
 bass2 (ambitus 'bass v8)
 )

(def-score micro2
    (:key-signature 'chromatic
     :time-signature '(4 4)
     :tempo 54
     :accidentals :all
     :layout (choir-satb-layout
              (list 'sop1 'sop2)
              (list 'alto1 'alto2)
              (list 'tenor1 'tenor2)
              (list 'bass1 'bass2))
     :start 1 :end 32)
  (sop1 :omn sop1 :channel 1 :sound 'gm :program 'Choir-Aahs)
  (sop2 :omn sop2 :channel 2)
  (alto1 :omn alto1 :channel 3)
  (alto2 :omn alto2 :channel 4)
  (tenor1 :omn tenor1 :channel 5)
  (tenor2 :omn tenor2 :channel 6)
  (bass1 :omn bass1 :channel 7)
  (bass2 :omn bass2 :channel 8)
  )