‖ schisma Acoustics.
(ˈskɪzmə)
Pl. schismata. Also 9 skhisma.
[late L. schisma ‘dimidium commatis’ (Boëthius, quoting Philolaus), a special use of Gr. σχίσµα division: see schism n.]
A term denoting a small interval of musical pitch. † a. In ancient Greek use, the half of a comma. Obs. † b. By Descartes and some later writers applied to the difference between a major and a minor tone; = comma 3 (1). Obs. c. The difference between a diaschisma and a syntonic comma, represented by the ratio 32.805:32.768.
| 1653 [see schism n. 4]. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Supp. 1875 Ellis Helmholtz' Sensat. Tone iii. xiv. 431 note, This substitution..amounts to a temperament with perfect Fifths, and major Thirds too flat by a skhisma, or nearly the eleventh of a comma. 1876 C. Brown Mus. Common Things ii. 38 Between all enharmonic changes,..the interval of the schisma always occurs, 32,768: 32,805, the difference being 37. 1876 Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms, Schisma (Gk.), an approximate half of a Pythagorean comma, that is, half of the difference between twelve fifths and seven octaves. 1885 Ellis Helmholtz' Sensat. Tone Addit. (ed. 2) 432 Twelve Fifths up and seven Octaves down give the sum of a Comma and a Skhisma, known as the Pythagorean Comma. |