[CAUT] Meantone (Which?)

[A440A at aol.com]

Jim  writes:

<<  And no, they don't know what they want either. I'll read through this 
stuff and see if I can make a more educated guess as to what they might need with 
this instrument. Right now I put a "John Marsh 1809" and they seem to like 
it. I have no idea what it really is, It just seemed to be less strident in some 
keys... I'm certainly a rooky at choosing temperaments. >>

Greetings, 
      The optimum tuning is dependent on the music that is to be played.  A 
harpsichord is tuned so often that it shouldn't be a problem moving things 
around.  The Pietro Aaron 1/4 meantone is the basic foundation of most early 
music, (prior to say, 1650), but there are MT's that, while not providing totally 
Just intevals in all eight usable keys, are still able to create that consonant 
sound of Justness without actually being tuned that restrictively.  
     If a restrictive tuning is not acceptable, try the various Bach 
interpretations and see which one finds favor. The Rollingball site should have the 
"Bach" tunings by Charles Francis, Kellnor, Lehman, and perhaps others.  These 
might just be the right temperament for a harpsichord that sees some variety 
time period music. 
Regards, 


Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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