Compositional theory
From Xenharmonic Reference
A xen music theory is a framework that governs the way tuning-related elements are used in music, analogous to Western 12edo functional harmony.
Importance
The concept of a xen music theory is distinct from tuning theory in that tuning theory tells you
- cent values in a tuning; what chords, structures, and JI/DR (approximations or not) various tuning systems have
- LCJI is a psychoacoustic effect
- DR is a psychoacoustic effect
These things don't tell you how to write music any more than an understanding of human color vision or the ways colors mix tells you how to make visual art. In contrast, a xen music theory, or xen music theories, tell you how to write music. Absent such a theoretical framework, one might unintentionally copy Western frameworks when writing xen music, though using elements of Western 12edo theory in xen music isn't inherently bad, as long as they're used intentionally.
Examples
Examples of xen music theories:
- Jaimbee's 13edo oneirotonic functional harmony (see the 13edo article)
- CellularAutomaton's xenmodalism, which can be summed as "depict the emotion/scenery/setting/event using the chords or modes you/the listeners associate with the feelings"
