Theory Lecture on Temperaments

[Avery Todd]

Mike,

    Interesting you should post this right now. At our PTG chapter technical
last Saturday, I had a DMA piano performance major present a version of
his Lecture Recital coming up. It happens to be on HT's. In this case, he's
using the Kirnberger III and Chopin Mazurkas to demonstrate the different
colors the different keys represent. To me, colors is what it's all about,
anyway. If I'm not mistaken, it was his phone conversation with Owen that
caused him to use the Kirnberger instead of a more mild HT.
    Surprisingly to me, it was extremely well received by all the techs
at the meeting. Even using an HT as strong as the Kirnberger.
    After hearing several pieces played on the HT, then on an ET tuned piano,
one tech's comment was "it just sounds blah" (on the ET). :-) Sorry if this
offends anyone, but IMHO, he was correct.
    We're even having a follow up program by Ed Foote next month.

      This morning I lectured on temperaments to three sections of music
>theory.  Before telling the students anything and with no signs on the
>pianos,  I compared the quasi pure triads and thirds of meantone with
>those of equal temperament and asked the music students which they
>preferred.   In two of three sections the class laughed at the ET triads
>considering them to be grossly out of tune.  Others gave funny looks as
>they compared these.  They all laughed when I told them that is how all
>professional technicians including myself tune most of the time.  (All
>were freshly tuned pianos).  A few from the 9:00am  class preferred the
>ET triads.  I think the faster fifths of MT were the reason as they
>changed their mind when I just played the thirds.  All were shocked at
>the MT wolf intervals which I played only after the classes had voted
>for the MT.

    I couldn't agree more. I believe the institutional environment is exactly
where musicians should be exposed to this. Even if they don't like it,
they are making that decision based on actual exposure to it, not
preconceived notions about it.

      I believe all music students should be exposed to the realities of
>tuning as they can learn to play better with pianos and other
>instruments of fixed pitch.  It also answers giant questions about our
>system of notation and why it evolved as it has.  My demonstration
>included pianos in well, equal and meantone.
>     The pianos will be on display for a while so that all faculty and
>students may sample these temperaments.  I look forward to their
>comments.
>
>It was fun
>-Mike Jorgensen  RPT
>Central Michigan University School of Music.

Avery (flame suit at the ready)