Now if I can just find out how terms like "1/4 syntonic comma" lead to the flattening of fiths, in Meantone, and how this was determined by the tuners of the times before 1750. I mean how does 1/4 comma translate into beats per second. Yes I know some where it is written that tuners in the 1700's (18th cent) did not listen to beats, yet the organ tuners did. The exciting part of historical temperaments is that they can be rendered on modern pianos----that the predictions of physists of the 17th and 18th century can be translated into cents and therefore plugged into 20th century tuning machines. In the interest in "hearing the music as the masters did" one must realize that the instruments on which they heard their music no longer exist execpt as museum pieces or reproductions. Hearing modern pianos tuned according to concepts of their time renders the keyboard music of the Baroque and Classical eras in a new light for our times. If performers ask, "Is it possible to tune the modern piano in Meantone by ear?", I would hope to have something to offer. Now if I can just figure out how much 1/4 syntonic comma flattens fifths from the aural perspective. Richard Moody
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC