Eduard Pashinyan's Universal Supermodal System and Its Significance in the Context of 20th-Century Theoretical Musicology

Abstract

The article explores the features of the Universal Supermodal System proposed in 1973 by the renowned musicologist, PhD in Arts, Professor Eduard Ruben Pashinyan. This system is considered within the context of the main trends of theoretical musicology of the 20th century, particularly with regard to the tendency towards proposing comprehensive systems capable of explaining the diverse manifestations of music - both folk and professional. From this perspective, some other systems are also presented - G. Catuar's Chromatic System, O. Messiaen's Modes of Limited Transposition, P. Hindemith's concept, and R. Reti's Pantonality. Their similarities and differences are highlighted. The comparison of these systems allows the author to conclude that the Universal Triandahexiphonic Supermodal System is the ultimate dominant form of modal organization in 20th-century music, towards the establishment of which the entire course of historical development of modal thinking was directed.