Hexachord

In music, a hexachord (also hexachordon) is a six-note series, as exhibited in a scale (hexatonic or hexad) or tone row. The term was adopted in this sense during the Middle Ages and adapted in the 20th century in Milton Babbitt's serial theory. The word is taken from the Greek: ἑξάχορδος, compounded from ἕξ (hex, six) and χορδή (chordē, string [of the lyre], whence "note"), and was also the term used in music theory up to the 18th century for the interval of a sixth ("hexachord major" being the major sixth and "hexachord minor" the minor sixth).^[2]^[3]

^ Arnold Whittall, The Cambridge Introduction to Serialism, Cambridge Introductions to Music (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008): 23. ISBN 978-0-521-86341-4 (hardback) ISBN 978-0-521-68200-8 (pbk).
^ William Holder, A Treatise of the Natural Grounds and Principles of Harmony (London: Printed by J. Heptinstall, for John Carr, at the Middle-Temple-Gate, in Fleet-Street, 1694): 192. Facsimile reprint, New York: Broude Brothers, 1967.
^ Ephraim Chambers, Cyclopædia: or, an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. and J. Knapton [and 18 others], 1728): 1, part 2:247.

[1] Arnold Whittall, The Cambridge Introduction to Serialism, Cambridge Introductions to Music (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008): 23. ISBN 978-0-521-86341-4 (hardback) ISBN 978-0-521-68200-8 (pbk).

[2] William Holder, A Treatise of the Natural Grounds and Principles of Harmony (London: Printed by J. Heptinstall, for John Carr, at the Middle-Temple-Gate, in Fleet-Street, 1694): 192. Facsimile reprint, New York: Broude Brothers, 1967.

[3] Ephraim Chambers, Cyclopædia: or, an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. and J. Knapton [and 18 others], 1728): 1, part 2:247.

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