Relative Scale Degree
REPRESENTATION
deg — relative scale degree representation
DESCRIPTION
The deg representation can be used to represent key-dependent scale-degree information for music in major or minor keys. The deg representation differs from the related degree representation in that it encodes relative rather than absolute pitch-height information.
Three types of data tokens are distinguished by deg: scale degree tokens, rest tokens, and barlines.
Scale degree tokens are encoded as a combination of melodic approach,
degree value, and degree alteration. The caret (\^) denotes an
ascending melodic approach to the current note, whereas the lower-case
letter v denotes a descending melodic approach. Repeated pitches carry
no melodic approach signifier. The scale degree values are indicated
by the numbers 1 (tonic) to 7 (leading-tone). These values may be
chromatically altered by raising (+) or lowering (-). The amount of
chromatic alteration is not indicated; for example, a raised
super-tonic is represented as 2+
whereas a doubly-raised super-tonic
is also represented as 2+
. A lowered submediant is represented as
6-
.
Scale degree tokens are always represented with respect to a
prevailing major or minor key. In the case of minor keys, scale
degrees are characterized with respect to the harmonic minor scale
only. By way of example, the pitch F in the key of A minor is
represented as the submediant (6
) while F# is represented as the
raised submediant (6+
). In the same key, G is represented as the
lowered seventh (7-
) while G#4 is the normal leading-tone (7
). In
the key of A major, F is represented as the lowered submediant (6-
).
If this pitch was approached from below, it would be encoded as ^6-
— whereas if it was approached from above, it would be encoded as
v6-
.
Rests are represented by the single letter `r'.
Barlines are represented using the "common system" for barlines — see barlines.
FILE TYPE
It is recommended that files containing predominantly deg data should be given names with the distinguishing `.deg' extension.
SIGNIFIERS
The following table summarizes the deg mappings of signifiers and signifieds.
0-9 scale degrees, or measure numbers \^ ascending melodic approach v descending melodic approach - scale degree lowered by one -tone — scale degree lowered by two -tones + scale degree raised by one semitone r rest = barline; == double barline —– ————————————-
Summary of deg Signifiers
EXAMPLES
The sample document given below shows the opening subject of the Fugue in C minor in the second volume of Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier. The left spine shows a kern encoding while the right spine shows a corresponding deg encoding.
``
!! J.S. Bach, Fugue 2 WTC Book I
**kern **deg
*M4/4 *M4/4
*c: *c:
=1 =1
8r r
16cc 1
16bn v7
8cc \^1
8g v5
8a- \^6
16cc \^1
16b v7
8cc \^1
8dd \^2
=2 =2
8g v5
16cc \^1
16bn v7
8cc \^1
8dd \^2
16f v4
16g \^5
4a- \^6
*- *-
———————————- ———
PERTINENT COMMANDS
The following Humdrum command accepts deg encoded data as inputs:
vox determine active and inactive voices in a Humdrum file
The following Humdrum command produces deg data as output:
deg translates **kern, **pitch, **Tonh, **solfg, to deg – ——————————— ————————————————————————-
TANDEM INTERPRETATIONS
The following tandem interpretations can be used in conjunction with deg:
key signatures *k[f#c#]
key *c#:
—————- ————
Tandem interpretations for deg
SEE ALSO
` barlines, deg, **degree, degree, **kern, **pitch, **solfg, **Tonh`