Kleisma
In music theory and tuning, the kleisma (κλείσμα), or semicomma majeur,[1] is a minute and barely perceptible comma type interval important to musical temperaments. It is the difference between six justly tuned minor thirds (each with a frequency ratio of 6/5) and one justly tuned tritave or perfect twelfth (with a frequency ratio of 3/1, formed by a 2/1 octave plus a 3/2 perfect fifth). It is equal to a frequency ratio of 15625/15552 = 2−6 3−5 56, or approximately 8.1 cents (
Just m3 | 6 just m3s | Just P5 | 12TET | 19TET | 34TET | 53TET | 72TET | |
Ratio | 6 : 5 | (6 : 5)6 | 3 : 2 | 27/12 / 26/12 | 211/19 | 220/34 | 231/53 | 242/72 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Letter name |
E♭ | A![]() |
G | G / A![]() |
G / A![]() |
|||
Cents | 315.64 | 693.84 | 701.96 | 700 / 600 | 694.74 | 705.88 | 701.89 | 700 |
![](../I/m/Kleisma_as_thirds_versus_one_twelfth_on_F-sharp.png)
![](../I/m/Doubleflat.svg.png)
The interval was named by Shohé Tanaka after the Greek for "closure",[2] who noted that it was tempered to a unison by 53 equal temperament.[3] It is also tempered out by 19 equal temperament, 34 equal temperament and 72 equal temperament, but it is not tempered out in 12 equal temperament. Namely, in 12 equal temperament the difference between six minor thirds (18 semitones) and one perfect twelfth (19 semitones) is not a comma, but exaggerated to a semitone (100 cents). The same is true for the difference between five minor thirds (15 semitones) and one major tenth (16 semitones).
The interval was described but not used by Rameau in 1726.[2]
Larry Hanson[4] independently discovered this interval which also manifested in a unique mapping using a generalized keyboard capable of accommodating all the above temperaments as well as just intonation constant structures (periodicity blocks) with these numbers of scale degrees
The kleisma is also an interval important to the Bohlen–Pierce scale.
References
- Haluska, Jan (2003). The Mathematical Theory of Tone Systems, p.xxviii. ISBN 978-0-8247-4714-5.
- Just Intonation Network (1993). 1/1: The Quarterly Journal of the Just Intonation Network, Volume 8, p.19.
- Studien im Gebiete der reinen Stimmung, in: Vierteljahrsschrift für Musikwissenschaft, Band 6, Nr. 1, Breitkopf und Härtel, Leipzig 1890, pp. 1-90 (Goole-Scan)
- Hanson, Larry (1989). "Development of a 53-Tone Keyboard Layout", Xenharmonikon XII.