Difference-Tone Cascade Theory: Formation of Consonance Order via Recursive Difference-Tone Sequences and Their Correspondence with Auditory Phenomena (Early Preprint, v1)

⚠ Important notice: This record is an early preprint (v1). It presents an initial formulation of the theory. A later manuscript currently in preparation substantially revises the conceptual framing, including a clearer distinction between perceptual consonance and structural consonance, as well as an expanded comparison with prior research. This version should not be regarded as the definitive formulation of the theory. Please use caution when citing or interpreting it, and consult the latest version once available. This paper proposes a structural framework for consonance based on recursive difference-tone configurations. Rather than treating consonance primarily as a function of sensory roughness or fusion, the paper explores how recursively generated difference-tone relations can give rise to internally ordered interval structures. The resulting framework is intended as a structural and generative account, not as a direct causal model of auditory perception. A fuller and revised treatment, including broader comparison with existing theories, is in preparation.