Centonization refers to the practice of composing melodies based on pre-existing melodic figures and formulas.
Centonization differs strongly from the modern emphasis on originality in composition, but it is in fact a very old and widespread technique. The musical modes used in Gregorian chant in fact reflect this use; the modes were actually more collections of appropriate melodic formulas than a set of pitches. Similar ideas appear in the music theory of other cultures; for example, the maqam or Arab music, the raga of Indian music, or the pathet of Indonesian music. These do not designate merely scales, but sets of appropriate melodies and ornaments (they are sometimes called "melody types"). The originality of the composer lies in how he or she links these formulas together and elaborates upon them in a new way. In music, a mode is an ordered series of musical intervals, which, along with the key or tonic, define the pitches. ... Gregorian chant is also known as plainchant or plainsong and is a form of monophonic, unaccompanied singing, which was developed in the Catholic church, mainly during the period 800-1000. ... In Arab music a maqam [sic] (plural maqamat) is, a technique of improvisation that defines the pitches, patterns, and development of a piece of music and which is unique to Arabian art music. ... Raga (rÄg /राग (Hindi), raga (Anglicised from rÄgaḥ/रागः (Sanskrit)) or rÄgam /ராகம௠(Tamil)) are the melodic modes used in Indian classical music. ... In music, a scale is a set of musical notes that provides material for part or all of a musical work. ...
Reference
Hoppin, Richard. Medieval Music. New York: Norton, 1978. Page 69.
Witness the use of the expression "wait a centon," the Colonial version of "wait a minute." In "Gun on Ice Planet Zero", Starbuck and Apollo's chronometers were synchronized to 80 centons, the length of their mission to blow up the Ravishol Pulsar.
A centon is 100 microns, for when Apollo's counter hits one centon in "Gun On Ice Planet Zero", it starts counting down from 100 to 1.
While it is well known that centon substituted well for minute in the series, the pilot episode provides compelling evidence that this was not always the case.
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