AboutGabriel Expertise I am able to volunteer my expertise in music composition, music theory, and songwriting. NOTE: I am *not* able to offer expertise in singing; AllExperts.com still hasn't separated "singing" from this category (it does not belong here). I answer a variety of questions. I have multiple music degrees and years of experience in the field.
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Question why the number 15 as in 15ma, instead of 16?
Answer Hello,
Okay let's try this again, my web browser crashed right as I clicked "submit" to my response, now I have to rewrite this. Let's hope the browser holds up this time.
If you spell C to C, 1 octave, you have an 8th.
If you spell C to C, 2 octaves, you have a 15th.
One would initially think it might be a 16th for being a "double octave", yet it is not.
This provides a visual representation of the 15th:
C, 1
D, 2
E, 3
F, 4
G, 5
A, 6
B, 7
C, 8
D, 9
E, 10
F, 11
G, 12
A, 13
B, 14
C, 15
Notating 1 or 2 octaves above or below the written pitch can be confusing. Below are notations used, some correct, some incorrect.
Proper notations:
8va - ottava, sounding 1 octave higher than written
8va bassa - ottava bassa, sounding 1 octave lower than written
15ma - quindicesima, sounding 2 octaves higher than written
15ma bassa - quindicesima bassa, sounding 2 octaves lower than written
Improper notations:
8vb - sometimes used to represent sounding 1 octave lower, though it is not standard
16ma - sometimes used to represent sounding 2 octaves higher, though is incorrect
One can think of the "va" in 8va as the last two letters in ottava, and the "ma" in 15ma as the last two letters in quindicesima.
Basically, the notations used are abbreviations - much like "f" is for forte, or any other music notation abbreviation - and the number used (like 15) represents the specific note above the initial when counting. The "C, 1", "D, 2", etc. visual representation at the top of my reply is the best demonstration of the "double" octave being a 15th rather than a 16th.
