Pitch-Space Lattices: Tonnetze and Other Transpositional Networks
José Oliveira Martins

Proceedings of Bridges 2011: Mathematics, Music, Art, Architecture, Culture
Pages 287–294
Regular Papers

Abstract

The paper proposes a three-fold classification for pitch-space lattices based on a music-theoretic construct known as the Tonnetz. It argues that applying incremental changes on some of the constructive features of the generic Tonnetz (Cohn 1997) results in a set of coherent and analytically versatile transpositional networks (T-nets), which brings under a focused perspective diverse pitch structures such as Tonnetze, affinity spaces, Alban Berg's ``master array'' of interval-cycles, and other types of networks. The paper also explores the music-modeling potential of progressive and dynamic T-nets by attending to characteristic compositional deployments in the music of Witold Lutosławski.

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