Basic Glossary

Cent – the unit of interval measure. The hundredth part of an equal semitone, with ratio 1200v2.
Circle of Fifths – the arrangement of the notes of a closed system by fifths, as C G, D, A, E, etc.
Closed System – A regular temperament in which the initial note is eventually reached again.
Ditonic Comma – The interval between two enharmonically equivalent notes, as B# and C, in the Pythagorean tuning. Its ratio is 531441:524288 or approximately 74:73, and it is conventionally taken as 24 cents.
Equal Temperament – The division of the octave into an equal number of parts, specifically into 12 semitones, each of which has the ratio of 12v2.
Golden System – A system of tuning based on the ratio of the golden section( v5 – 1 ) : 2
Just Intonation – A system of tuning based on the octave (2:1), the pure fifth (3:2),and the pure major third (5:4)
Mean-Semitone Temperament – A temperament in which the diatonic notes are in meantone temperament, and the chromatic notes are takes as halves of meantones.
Meantone Temperament – Strictly, a system of tuning with flattened fifths( 4v 5:1) and pure major thirds (5:4)
Multiple Division – The division of the octave into more than 12 parts, equal or unequal

Ptolemaic Comma – see Syntonic Comma
Pythagorean Comma – see Ditonic Comma
Pythagorean tuning – A system of tuning based on the octave (2:1) and the pure fifth (3:2).
Regular temperament – A temperament in which all the fifths save one are of the same size, such as the Pythagorean tuning or the meantone temperament. (Equal temperament, with all fifths equal, is also a regular temperament, and so are the closed systems of multiple division.)
Schisma – The difference between the syntonic and ditonic commas, with ratio 32805:32768, or approximately 2 cents.
Syntonic Comma – the interval between a just major third (5 : 4) and a Pythagorean third (81 : 64). Its ratio is 81 : 80 and it is conventionally taken as 22 cents.
Temperament – A system, some or all of whose intervals cannot be expressed in rational numbers.
A Tuning – A system all of whose intervals can be expressed in rational numbers.
Unequal Temperament – Any temperament other than equal temperament, particularly the meantone temperament or some variety thereof.
Wolf fifth – the dissonant fifth, usually G# - Eb (notated as a diminished sixth), in any unequal temperament, such as the meantone wolf fifth of 737 cents.

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RISM - Répertoire International des Sources Musicales
International Inventory of Musical Sources
The International Inventory of Musical Sources (RISM) is an international, non-profit joint venture which aims to comprehensively document the world's musical sources of manuscripts or printed music, works on music theory and libretti stored in libraries, archives, monasteries, schools and private collections. The organization, founded in Paris in 1952, is the largest and the only global operation that registers written musical sources. RISM documents what exists and where it is stored.

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