Middentonen

Middentonen are pitches that lie between the standard notes of the Western 12-tone equal temperament. In microtonal music, the octave may be divided into more than twelve steps, or scales may use intervals that do not align with the conventional semitone. Middentonen therefore refer to notes that are not part of the familiar chromatic scale, and they can appear as evenly spaced divisions or as part of nonuniform tunings.

In practice, middentonen are explored through various tuning systems. Some systems divide the octave into a larger number of equal steps, such as 24-TET, 31-TET, or 53-TET, producing quarter-tones or other small intervals. Other approaches use just intonation or other nonstandard scales, where intervals are derived from simple ratios. The common thread is that these tunings create pitches between the ordinary semi tones of 12-tone equal temperament, allowing more nuanced pitch relationships.

Notation and performance for middentonen vary. Composers sometimes use microtonal accidentals or dedicated notation to indicate pitches between standard notes, including half-sharps and half-flats or custom symbols. Instruments such as fretless string instruments, prepared pianos, specialized keyboards, or synthesizers can execute these pitches with greater precision, while traditional fixed-punte instruments pose more challenges.

Culturally and historically, middentonen occur in many musical traditions and experimental practices. They are integral to some non-Western tuning systems and scales, and they have been employed by 20th- and 21st-century composers to explore new sound worlds. The study of middentonen encompasses theory, practice, and composition across diverse musical contexts.