Hemitonia is a musical term that is pronounced as /ˌhɛmɪˈtoʊniə/. The word comprises of two parts: "hemi," meaning half, and "tonia," referring to the pitch of a musical sound. This word describes a type of musical scale that comprises of five notes, with the first and the fourth notes separated by an interval of a half tone. The spelling of "hemitonia" can be confusing due to the two consonants "t" and "n" in close association, but the phonetic transcription clearly shows the correct pronunciation.
Hemitonia is a term often used in music theory and composition, referring to a certain musical scale or mode. Derived from the Greek words "hemi," meaning half, and "tonos," meaning tone, hemitonia represents a musical system that is characterized by the division of the whole tone into two equal half-steps. In other words, it is a scale structure that includes both whole tones and half tones in a specific pattern.
This term is commonly associated with ancient Greek musical modes, particularly evident in the music of the Dorian, Phrygian, and Mixolydian modes. These modes were organized with specific intervallic relationships, and hemitonia played a significant role in their construction.
Hemitonia is also closely related to the concept of tonos, which represents the basic pitch or key of a musical composition. As such, hemitonia can affect the tonality and overall mood of a piece of music. It adds a distinct flavor and color to the composition, creating a subtly enigmatic and evocative atmosphere.
In modern music, hemitonia may refer to scales or modes outside of the classical Greek context that exhibit similar intervallic patterns. It is a term used primarily in music theory and analysis rather than everyday musical discussions.
Hemihypertonia.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.