Taiottava

Taiottava is a fictional concept used in speculative music theory and worldbuilding to describe a method of cross-cultural melodic transposition that preserves the identity of motifs across different tunings and octaves. The term blends the Italian ottava, meaning octave, with the fictional prefix tai-, signaling expansion beyond a single culture or musical system.

In its core, taiottava treats certain melodic cells as octave-equivalence classes, allowing a motif to be transposed not only between pitches but across cultural timbres while retaining its contour.

In fiction and game contexts, taiottava provides a framework for composers and storytellers to depict harmony across diverse sonic environments. In some RPG supplements, characters perform a taiottava rite to align regional tunes or unlock ancient songs; in novels, it is described as a unifying musical language.

Although inspired by real-world concepts such as octave equivalence and transposition, taiottava is not an established academic term. It appears mainly in fan works, worldbuilding guides, and hobbyist discussions.