Non-Deterministic Scales Used in Traditional Turkish Music

Abstract

Abstract Non-deterministic pitch scales observed in traditional Turkish music are viewed as distributions along the pitch axis. This thesis contrasts with the conventional norm of using deterministic scales, where pitches are discrete fixed points on the number line (the pitch axis), as in fretted and keyboard instruments. In this study actual frequencies used by master musicians during an improvisation are measured in Hertz and analyzed with the long term goal of characterizing the underlying modal scales in the form of distributions. The potential of the measurement system, together with a variety of plausible mathematical analysis schemes is demonstrated on improvisations made by two prominent master musicians in a specific fundamental mode.