Commuting Groups and the Topos of Triads

TL;DR

This paper explores the mathematical relationship between the topos of triads and the neo-Riemannian PLR-group, developing theory of dual groups and applying it to musical systems like hexatonic and octatonic sets.

Contribution

It introduces a framework connecting dual groups with generalized interval systems and demonstrates how to realize musical systems as Lawvere--Tierney upgrades of triads.

Findings

All four hexatonic systems are realized as Lawvere--Tierney upgrades.

All three octatonic systems are realized as Lawvere--Tierney upgrades.

Enumeration of Z_{12}-subsets invariant under the triadic monoid.

Abstract

The goal of this article is to clarify the relationship between the topos of triads and the neo-Riemannian PLR-group. To do this, we first develop some theory of generalized interval systems: 1) we prove the well known fact that every pair of dual groups is isomorphic to the left and right regular representations of some group (Cayley's Theorem), 2) given a simply transitive group action, we show how to construct the dual group, and 3) given two dual groups, we show how to easily construct sub dual groups. Examples of this construction of sub dual groups include Cohn's hexatonic systems, as well as the octatonic systems. We then enumerate all Z_{12}-subsets which are invariant under the triadic monoid and admit a simply transitive PLR-subgroup action on their maximal triadic covers. As a corollary, we realize all four hexatonic systems and all three octatonic systems as Lawvere--Tierney upgrades of consonant triads.