Scan 210
The American history and encyclopedia of music, 1908
30 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. Printed page 187. See the scan on archive.org.
1DICTIONARY
3enharmonic
4two of them corresponding to our two, the diatonic and the chromatic, the first having eight tones and the second thirteen tones in an octave. The third, however, was termed enharmonic and its introduction was attributed to Olympus. Very small intervals were employed in this scale, their extent being about a quarter tone.
62. In modern music enharmonic refers to a system that is theoretical rather than practical. It pertains to notes named and written differently, but sounded alike, as F sharp and G flat. In theory these notes are distinct, being separated by a small interval, less than a semitone, but on the majority of keyboard instruments and, in fact, all instruments except those of the viol tribe, intervals smaller than a semitone are not considered and as a result the interval between F natural and G natural is divided almost in half, and the tone occurring at this interval serves as both F sharp and G flat. There are, however, organs and pianos on which the smaller intervals are observed, but the practice requires so much more extensive a keyboard that such instruments are not practicable. In instruments of the viol family the exact pitch of each tone is not fixed by the makers as it is in other instruments, and the performer is allowed to observe intervals smaller than a semitone. In vocal performance the same is likewise possible. Equivalent to enharmonique (Fr.) and enharmonisch (Ger.).
8enharmonic change
9Writing a chord in two ways so as to change the notation, but not the sound, as C#, E, G, Bb, on a keyboard is identical with C#, E, G, A#, both in relative position and pitch.
11enharmonic chords
12Chords which are alike in pitch and sound but are written differently. For instance, a chord composed of C sharp, E, G and B flat on the piano or organ is played on the same keys as a chord composed of C sharp, E, G and A sharp, B flat and A sharp being identical on the keyboard. However, the first chord belongs to one key and the second to another key. Consequently the use of the individual chords depends upon the key in which a composition is written.
14enharmonic diësis
15The difference between a diatonic and a chromatic semitone; approximately a quarter tone. Theoretically it is the difference between F sharp and G flat which can not be observed on the piano or the organ, the two tones being represented by the same black key as the pitch of each tone on these instruments is prearranged by the maker. The difference, however, can be expressed on the violin or by the voice as in these cases the pitch may be altered any degree at the will of the player or singer.
17enharmonic genus
18That method of dividing the octave in which the tones used are less than semitones; that is, approximately quarter-tones.
20enharmonic intervals
211. Intervals which produce exactly the same sound but which may be called by different names, or may be differently described. For example, the interval from C to E flat is called a minor third; but if instead you should describe that same interval as reaching from C to D sharp, then the interval would be called an extreme second, yet in both cases the same sound is produced to the ear. Again any note may have at least three names; for example, G may be described as the double sharp of F, or the double flat of A.
232. In the old Greek scale an enharmonic was an interval of less than a half step. Such intervals are possible even now in instruments like the violin or trombone where there are no fixed keys or frets and the interval depends on the ear of the player.
25enharmonic keys
26All keys on the keyed instruments in general use are enharmonic keys, because the same digital may be used for a flat or a sharp of the note just above or below it. Some musicians contend that the difference between C sharp, for example, and D flat should be expressed on a keyboard, and keyed instruments have been devised with more than the usual twelve keys (seven white and five black), to the octave. Instruments having such keys are called enharmonic instruments.
28enharmonic modulation
29When two chords are formed by the same combination of tones, but in which the notes may be called different names, these chords are said to be enharmonic; for example, the two chords C, D sharp, G, C, and C, E
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