Meantone Temperament

Farrell mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
Sat, 9 Sep 2000 20:35:42 -0400


Hi List. I just tuned an old Mason & Hamlin upright in my shop with a
Meanton 1/6 Comma temperament with my SAT III. Did it just for the yahoo -
never heard an extreme temperament like that before. Well, its pretty
extreme. Had my wife play a few tunes - Beethoven, Chopin, etc. Keys with a
bunch of sharps or flats are virtually unplayable - YUK! Key of C really
kinda sounds horrid, everything is so still - it sounds dead. I guess I'm so
used to hearing some elements of out-or-tuneness. I'm suprised that sooooo
in-tune can kinda sound bad. Maybe "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or the sort
would sound really dyno-mite! Some things, or parts of tunes sounded good
though. Several notes in the temperament are in the neighborhood of 20 cents
off from equal temperament. It amazes me how far you can change a
temperament and still have it sound like something. Oh well, just thought
ya'all should know! :-)

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com



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