Language, Music & Games
Microtonal music theory (shrutis)
1st millennium CEIndian music theorists (Bharata, later)Natya Shastra; later sangita textsPan-Indian / unspecified
1 CE
Analysis of the octave into 22 microtonal 'shrutis' and organised scales.
- Dated
- 1 CE–1000
- As scholars put it
- 1st millennium CE
- Originator
- Indian music theorists (Bharata, later)
- Source text
- Natya Shastra; later sangita texts
- Region
- Pan-Indian / unspecified
- Discipline
- Language, Music & Games
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- Medium
- Verification
- Reference-cited
Meanwhile in the West
Western music settled on 12-tone equal temperament much later.
Fair to say
A different tonal system, not 'better' or a precursor to Western tuning.
Path to modern innovation
Of interest to music theory and acoustics.
1 CEMicrotonal music theory (shrutis)
1660Transmission
Independent musical tradition.
Primary sources
- 4Natya ShastraUnreviewed
- 5Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni Volume 1Unreviewed
References
- 1Natya Shastra
- 2music-theory studies
Further reading
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-064 on GitHub.