In music theory and musical tuning the Holdrian comma, also called Holder's comma, and sometimes the Arabian comma, is a small musical interval of approximately 22.6415 cents, equal to one step of 53 equal temperament, or ( play). The name comma is misleading, since this interval is an irrational number and does not describe the compromise between intervals of any tuning system; it assumes this name because it is an approximation of the syntonic comma ( play), which was widely used as a measurement of tuning in William Holder's time.
Mercator's comma is a name often used for a closely related interval because of its association with Nicholas Mercator. One of these intervals was first described by Ching-Fang in 45 BCE.
Read more about Holdrian Comma: Mercator's Comma and The Holdrian Comma, Arabian Comma
Famous quotes containing the word comma:
“I didn’t have to think up so much as a comma or a semicolon; it was all given, straight from the celestial recording room. Weary, I would beg for a break, an intermission, time enough, let’s say, to go to the toilet or take a breath of fresh air on the balcony. Nothing doing!”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)