intervalare

Intervalare is a term that emerged within certain online communities, particularly those focused on music production and digital audio workstations (DAWs). It refers to a perceived gap or disconnect between the way musical intervals are understood and taught theoretically, and how they are practically implemented and experienced by musicians, especially when working with software and synthesized sounds.

The concept often arises in discussions about tuning systems, microtonality, and the nuances of pitch perception. Proponents of the term argue that traditional Western music theory, with its emphasis on fixed scales and tempered intervals, can sometimes oversimplify or misrepresent the sonic reality of musical intervals. They suggest that software synthesizers and advanced audio editing tools allow for a much finer control over pitch, leading to a more fluid and potentially different perception of intervals than what is typically conveyed through standard notation or pedagogical methods.

Intervalare is not a formally recognized musical term within academic circles. Instead, it functions as a colloquial descriptor for a specific kind of experiential or practical understanding of musical intervals that differs from traditional theoretical frameworks. It highlights the influence of technology on musical perception and creation, suggesting that the tools we use can shape our understanding of fundamental musical elements like intervals. The term encourages a more empirical and less dogmatic approach to exploring the sonic possibilities of pitch relationships.