also: りっせん
ritsusen scale; Japanese seven-tone gagaku scale (Dorian mode)
A technical term in traditional Japanese music (gagaku). Refers to a seven-tone scale equivalent to the Dorian mode: re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do. Often contrasted with 呂旋 (ryosen).
See also: 呂旋
In gagaku, two scales called ritsusen and ryosen are used.
The ritsusen scale corresponds to the Dorian mode in Western music.
Alternate reading; less common than りつせん.
Compound of 律 (ritsu, 'rule' or 'standard') and 旋 (sen, 'rotation' or 'melody'), referring to a standard melodic pattern in gagaku. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.