La scala universale dei suoni di Daniélou

Abstract

This article outlines the general reasons that induced Daniélou to propose a division of the octave into 53 intervals as a universal scale of sounds, within a more general reflection about the idea of a natural scale. In particular, it illustrates Daniélou's criticism of its naturalistic foundations, accentuating the presence of an empirical interest, in connection with the issues relating to the tunings of extra-European cultures. This interest, however, is reinforced by a mathematizing approach, which can be seen as a revival of neo-Pythagorean tendencies but which also, in a way that is perhaps extravagant though rich in interest, would seem to betray the influence of modern computer science. The aim of the article is twofold: on the one hand, to bring to light the main theoretical threads of Daniélou's research, which are often buried and not clearly visible; on the other hand, to show that mathematizing apriorism is clearly dominant, as shown by the fact that the entire universal scale can be derived from an elementary algebraic formula.