A function defined over the interval matrix of a scale, revealing the perceptual properties of that scale.
Strictly Proper scales are those in which all intervallic size classes are distinct and non-overlapping.
Scales in which two or more pairs of interval classes contain identical members are Proper.
Scales with overlapping or contradictory interval classes are Improper and are less likely to be perceived as musical gestalts than proper or strictly proper scales.
This concept of Propriety was introduced by David Rothenberg (Rothenberg 1969).
Hi Monz,
I wonder if your propriety page may need some clarification for mathematicians.
"Strictly Proper scales are those in which all intervallic size classes are distinct and non-overlapping."
I took it in the set theoretic sense, that two classes overlap if they have members in common, translating "overlap" as "set intersection".
So, came to the preliminary, somewhat puzzling conclusion that you could have a scale that is strictly proper, and also improper.
However here it means that A and B overlap if B has a member smaller than one of the members of A.
Once I realised that, all became clear.
A scale is proper if all intervals spanning the same number of scale steps, have a range of sizes (in cents) that does not overlap but may meet, the range of sizes for any other number of scale steps.
A scale is strictly-proper if all intervals spanning the same number of scale steps, have a range of sizes (in cents) that is disjoint from (does not meet or overlap), the range of sizes for any other number of scale steps.
Examples.
1. Improper
Number of steps in interval 4
1 2 3 <---------->
Ranges <--------> <--------> <---------->
| | | | | | | |
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 etc.
Interval size (cents)
2. Proper
Number of steps in interval
1 2 3 4
Ranges <--------> <--------> <--------x-------->
| | | | | | | |
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 etc.
Interval size (cents)
3. Strictly proper
Number of steps in interval
1 2 3 4
Ranges <--------> <--------> <-------> <------->
| | | | | | | |
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 etc.
Interval size (cents)
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