diastem
(ˈdaɪəstɛm)
[ad. Gr. διάστηµα: see next. Cf. F. diastème (1732 Trévoux).]
In ancient Greek music, an interval; esp. an interval forming a single degree of the scale.
| 1694 Holder Treat. Harmony vi. 110 Diastem signifies an Interval or Space; System, a Conjunction or Composition of Intervals. So that, generally speaking, an Octave, or any other System, might be truly call'd a Diastem..Tho'..strictly, by a Diastem they understood only an Incomposit Degree. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Diastem, Diastema, in music, a name the antients gave to a simple interval; in contradistinction to a compound interval, which they called a system. |