In music, identity may refer to two different concepts, one in post-tonal theory and one in tuning

theory.

Contents
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1 Post-tonal theory
2 Tuning
3 See also
4 Sources

[edit] Post-tonal theory

Interval-4 family

Sum-4 family

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In post-tonal music theory, identity is similar to identity in universal algebra. An identity

function is a permutation or transformation which transforms a pitch or pitch class set into itself.
For instance, inverting an augmented triad or C4 interval cycle, 048, produces itself, 084.
Performing a retrograde operation upon the pitch class set 01210 produces 01210.
In addition to being a property of a specific set, identity is, by extension, the "family" of sets or
set forms which satisfy a possible identity.
George Perle provides the following example[1]:
"C-E, D-F, E-G, are different instances of the same interval [interval-4]...[an] other
kind of identity...has to do with axes of symmetry. C-E belongs to a family [sum-4] of
symmetrically related dyads as follows:"
D D E F F G G

D C C B A A G
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
+ 2 1 0 11 10 9 8
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
C=0, so in mod12:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- 9 10 11 0 1 2 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Thus, in addition to being part of the interval-4 family, C-E is also a part of the sum-4 family.

[edit] Tuning

Overtone series, partials 1-5 numbered

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In musical tuning, an identity is each of the odd numbers below and including the limit in a
tuning. For example, the identities included in 3-limit tuning are 1, 3, and 5. Each odd number
represents a new pitch in the harmonic series and may thus be considered an identity:
C
1

C
2

G
3

C
4

E
5

G
6

B
7

C
8

D
9

E F G ...
10 11 12 ...

"The number 9, though not a prime, is nevertheless an identity in music, simply because it is an
odd number".[2] Partch defines "identity" as "one of the correlatives, 'major' or 'minor', in a
tonality; one of the odd-number ingredients, one or several or all of which act as a pole of
tonality".[3]

[edit] See also

Numerary nexus
Otonality and Utonality

Tonality diamond
Tonality flux
Klumpenhouwer network