a
new style of singing (German Lieder singing as contrasted with
Italian coloratura singing), ornamental tones were used less
and less, and when found now are usually written out in full
in the score instead of being indicated by signs.

CHAPTER VII

SCALES

76. A _scale_ (from _scala_, a Latin word meaning _ladder_; Ger.
_Ton-leiter_) is an ascending or descending series of tones, progressing
according to some definite system, and all bearing (in the case of
tonality scales at least) a very intimate relation to the first
tone--the _key-tone_ or _tonic_. (See p. 28, Sec. 78; also note 1 at
bottom of p. 38.)

Many different kinds of scales have existed in various musical
eras, the point of resemblance among them all being the fact
that they have all more or less recognized the _octave_ as the
natural limit of the series. The difference among the various
scales has been in the selection of intervals between the
scale-tones, and, consequently, in the number of tones within
the octave. Thus _e.g._, in our major scale the intervals
between the tones are all whole-steps except two (which are
half-steps), and the result is a scale of _eight_ tones
(including in this number both the key-tone and its octave):
but in the so-called _pentatonic_ scale of the Chinese and
other older civilizations we find larger intervals (_e.g._,
the step-and-a-half), and consequently a smaller number of
tones within the octave. Thus in the scale upon which many of
the older Scotch folk songs are based the intervals are
arranged as follows:

1 whole 2 whole 3 step-and- 4 whole 5 step-and- 6
step step a-half step a-half

The result is a scale of six tones, corresponding
approximately with C--D--E--G--A--C in our modern system.

The term _pentatonic_ is thus seen to be a misnomer since the
sixth tone is necessary for the completion of the series, just
as the eighth tone is essential in our diatonic scales.

The following Chinese tune (called "Jasmine") is based on the
pentatonic scale.

[Illustration]

77. In studying the theory of the scale the student should bear in mind
the fact that a scale is not an arbitrary series of tones which some one
has invented, and which others are required to make use of. It is rather
the result of accustoming the