Small temperament octave

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

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In a message dated 1/16/01 8:21:02 AM Central Standard Time, hsrosen@gate.net 
(Howard S. Rosen) writes:


> Do you think that tuning a piano (any type) will sound a bit "sweeter"
> (narrower thirds) than it otherwise would, if one starts out with the
> narrowest temperament octave (2/1) rather than the often recommended 4/2+
> octave? P_L_E_A_S_E  let's not get into HT's right now and stick to ET for
> the purpose of this query. I anticipate your saying to me "Try it and see
> for yourself". I have and I *believe* there is a difference but this could
> easily be wishful thinking. Tuning this way means that the treble stretch
> (over which I am most concerned) will  not be as gradual but it can be done.
> 
> I would welcome your thoughts on this based on a commitment to ET. I am well
> aware that some HT keys sound *much* sweeter than ET but my question above
> 

Yes, it can be done and I have heard it before.  Kent Swafford RPT was the 
first to point this out to me, then Virgil Smith RPT tuned one of the pianos 
this way at the Chicago Chapter meeting in September 1999 in which Virgil's 
regular ET, the contracted ET and my EBVT were compared.

ET is actually possible within an octave of whatever type you choose.  At the 
time when I studied at the Steinway factory in 1986, I was interested in the 
ET with pure 5ths.  The Steinway piano has higher inharmonicity than most 
pianos, so in my view, it lends itself more naturally to a very wide starting 
octave.  The instructor, Bill Garlick RPT told me at that time however, that 
this would produce a "very bright" sound.  I said and thought at the time 
that this would be the most desirable.  He countered that there may be 
instances where a more contracted sound might be preferable.

I couldn't imagine this but when I heard some of Bach's music from Book II of 
the Well Tempered Clavier music played in a contracted ET, I heard that it 
made the music sound very smooth, mellow and mesmerizing.  However, you might 
observe that some brilliant Romantic period music, such as that of Chopin 
would be "dulled" by such a temperament.

So, just as any manipulation of temperament and octaves, a contracted ET 
produces an effect and also has consequences that could be considered 
undesirable.  You can even create an ET with an octave that is made 
deliberately narrow, that is with a slight beat on the narrow side, about the 
same but inverted form the kind of beat to the wide side that is used for ET 
with pure 5ths.  You will get a smoother, more gentle and harmonious sound 
but your octaves will sound decidedly dull and flat.

Knowing that, this choice should be made deliberately and for the best effect 
on a piano with low inharmonicity such as a Mason & Hamlin, Sohmer, Kawai or 
Baldwin 7 or 9 foot.  It should be chosen when there is the desire for this 
smooth, harmonious sound at the expense of brighter octaves.  Out of context, 
the octaves and the 5ths will have that narrowed sound that may sound "flat" 
but just as with the tempered 5ths of HT's, you don't notice that when music 
is played in its normal context.

For most practical purposes, "optimum" stretch produces the most desirable 
sound, regardless of the kind of temperament chosen whether it be ET or an 
HT.  This allows the inharmonicity the piano has to play with and absorb some 
of the Pythagorean Comma which is the very reason a scale must be tempered to 
begin with.  Making the octaves wider or narrower than that which matches the 
inharmonicity simply creates an additional effect.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin

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