Schisma
In music, the schisma is the interval between the syntonic comma and the Pythagorean comma which is slightly larger. It equals or ≈ 1.00113, which corresponds to 1.9537 cents. It may also be defined as:
- the difference between 8 justly tuned perfect fifths plus a justly tuned major third and 5 octaves;
- the ratio of major limma to the Pythagorean limma;
- the ratio of the syntonic comma and the diaschisma.
Andreas Werckmeister defined the grad as the twelfth root of the Pythagorean comma, or equivalently the difference between the justly tuned fifth and the equally tempered fifth of 700 cents. This value, 1.955 cents, may be well approximated by converting the ratio 886:885 to cents. This interval is also sometimes called a schisma.
is very close to 4:3, the just perfect fourth. This is because the difference between a grad and a schisma is so small. So, a rational intonation version of equal temperament may be obtained by flattening the fifth by a schisma rather than a grad, a fact first noted by Johann Kirnberger, a pupil of Bach. Twelve of these Kirnberger fifths of exceed seven octaves, and therefore fail to close, by the tiny interval of called the atom of Kirnberger of 0.01536 cents.
Tempering out the schisma leads to a schismatic temperament.
Descartes used the word schisma to mean that which multiplied by a perfect fourth produces 27:20 ; his schisma divided into a perfect fifth produces 40:27, and a major sixth times a schisma is 27:16. However, by this definition a "schisma" would be what is better known as the syntonic comma.