Is the Western 12-Tone Scale So Popular Globally Because of Historical and Economic Factors or is There Some Neurological Factor?
The Western 12-tone scale has been so widely adopted across the globe that it is nearly ubiquitous in musical compositions and performances. But why? Is it due to historical and economic factors, or is there a neurological aspect to it?
Historical and Economic Factors
From a historical perspective, the uniform adoption of the Western 12-tone scale can be traced back to the intervention of technology and social changes. The piano, for instance, played a significant role in standardizing pitch. Once the piano became a central instrument, musicians and composers had to adjust their instruments to meet the demands of the new musical landscape. This uniformity was enforced by the accordion, a loud instrument that couldn't be tuned precisely like the piano. When the accordion became popular, it forced other instruments to conform to its tuning, effectively erasing the variety of earlier tunings and scales.
Historically, the development of musical notations also contributed to the standardization of the 12-tone scale. As the music of various cultures was written down and disseminated, it facilitated the spread and adoption of a particular tuning system. The influence of the church and the spread of monastic traditions were instrumental in documenting and standardizing new music styles. This process led to the uniform adoption of the 12-tone scale across the continent, especially during the medieval and Renaissance periods.
Neurological Factors
In addition to historical and economic factors, there is compelling evidence that the Western 12-tone scale also tics within a unique human neurological response. Savart (1802) was one of the first to explore the harmonic series and its role in musical perception. The 12-tone scale, with its harmonics, strikes a chord with human auditory perception, creating a sense of familiarity and pleasure in melodies and harmonies. The harmonics play a crucial role in this, as they are universal. D S D M S L D' R' M' F' S' provide us with fifths, fourths, major thirds, minor thirds, tones, and semitones, which are essential to creating a pleasing and harmonious sound.
The uniformity of the 12-tone scale ensures that music composed in any key will sound reasonably well-tuned to most listeners. However, not all cultures have adopted the 12-tone scale. For example, some forms of music, like Pan Flutes, rely on quarter tones, which are not found in the 12-tone scale. Nonetheless, when considering the harmonics, the 12-tone scale's spacings (2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48) align precisely with the natural harmonic series, making it the optimal choice for tonal music.
The Recent Adoption of the 12-Tone Scale
The standardization of the 12-tone scale is very recent in the grand scheme of musical history. Before the 16th century, Europe was dominated by a plurality of tunings and scales, each specific to different ethnic groups. However, the use of the accordion, a loud but difficult instrument to tune, led to the fact that it became the metric by which other instruments were tuned. This standardization process occurred within just a generation, as mentioned in a documentary on ethnic music from Europe.
The role of the church and the spread of monastic tradition played a crucial role in the standardization of musical notation and the music styles. The spread of knowledge through the children of the wealthy and the "upper class" and "religious" set-ups in notations influenced the popular and traditional pieces from various cultures, ultimately leading to a dominant music writing style that was easily duplicated across various performance venues.
On the other hand, the lower classes and the original cultures often preferred oral and physical traditions, making it unnecessary for them to write down their music. This contrast highlights the dichotomy between the widespread adoption of the 12-tone scale and the continued existence of diverse musical practices.
In conclusion, the popularity of the Western 12-tone scale can be attributed to a complex interplay of historical, economic, and neurological factors. While economic and technological advancements played a significant role in its standardization, the inherent neurological response of the human brain to this scale is undoubtedly a factor that has contributed to its global success.