# Limma

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limma
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The word '''limma''' or '''leimma''' (from [Greek](/source/Greek_language): {{math|λείμμα}}, ''leimma''; meaning "remnant") can refer to several different [musical intervals](/source/interval_(music)), and one form of breath-mark to indicate spacing within lyrics; their only common property is that all are very small either in pitch difference or in time.

== Pitch ==
More specifically, in Pythagorean tuning (i.e. 3-limit):
* The original [Pythagorean limma](/source/Pythagorean_limma), {{sfrac| 256 | 243 }}, a [Pythagorean interval](/source/Pythagorean_interval) ({{Audio|Pythagorean minor semitone on C.mid|play}}).

and in [5-limit](/source/limit_(music)) tuning:
* The 5-limit diatonic semitone, {{sfrac| 16 | 15 }} ({{Audio|Just diatonic semitone on C.mid|play}}). Although closer in size to the [Pythagorean apotome](/source/Pythagorean_apotome) than to the limma, it has been so called because of its function as a diatonic semitone rather than a chromatic one.

* The [5-limit](/source/limit_(music)) limma (now a [diesis](/source/diesis)), {{sfrac| 128 | 125 }}, the amount by which three just [major third](/source/major_third)s fall short of an octave ({{Audio|5-limit limma on C.mid|play}}).

* The [major limma](/source/major_limma), {{sfrac| 135 | 128 }}, which is the difference between two [major whole tones](/source/Major_second) and a [minor third](/source/minor_third) ({{Audio|Greater chromatic semitone on C.mid|play}}).

== Metre ==
A leimma is ''also'' the name of a musical / metrical symbol ({{math|𝉅}}) for the timing of sung lyrics. If written over lyrics to it directed the singer to insert the ''shortest possible pause'' between words or syllables it was placed over.<ref>{{cite dictionary |title={{math|λεῖμμα}} |date=4 September 2023 |edition=last edit |dictionary=Liddell, Scott, Jones Ancient Greek Lexicon (online) |quote=2&thinsp;(b) in Rhythm, the shortest pause, {{math|λ. ἐν ῥυθμῷ}} {{math|χρόνος κενὸς}} {{math|ἐλάχιστος}} Aristid. Quint. 1.18&nbsp;. |url=https://lsj.gr/wiki/%CE%BB%CE%B5%E1%BF%96%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%B1 |access-date=2024-03-15 |via=LSJ - Ancient Greek dictionaries}}</ref>

Modern equivalents are:
* a [breath mark](/source/breath_mark)
* a [[comma (punctuation)| comma [,]<nowiki/>]]
* a [sixteenth rest ({{math|𝄿      }})](/source/sixteenth_note) or perhaps a [thirty-second rest ({{math|𝅀  }})](/source/Thirty-second_note)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{SIA}}
Category:Intervals (music)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Limma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limma) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limma?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.