Setting Historic Temperaments question

[Joseph Garrett]

That's my contention.

Joseph Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Joe And Penny Goss 
To: joegarrett at earthlink.net;Pianotech List
Sent: 9/26/2006 8:34:46 AM 
Subject: Re: Setting Historic Temperaments question


Hi Joe,
Great point. one that I had not considered. That would have made the tonal experience much more tolerable in remote keys.
Perhaps that is why ET as we use it developed after higher tension wire started to be used.

Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Joseph Garrett 
To: pianotech 
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: Setting Historic Temperaments question


KeyKat said: "In tuning E.T., I always start tuning by setting F3 to F4 octave as 
temperament. On each piano the F3 to A3, 7 BPS, is different some pianos 
require "faster" 7 BPS some "slower" 7BPS. Now if this is true that different 
pianos require different beats for setting the temperaments, then I presume the 
same is true for setting historic temperaments."

For this reason, I believe that "historic temperaments" are NOT the same on a modern instrument. The old/ancient instruments had far less tension, thus giving an entirely different enharmonic spectrum. There was a plethora of inconsistancy to these instruments. This, I believe, was part of the "search" for an adequate temperament, i.e. so many different ones were "tried".<G>
If one, truly, wishes to hear how a specific temperament sounds, I believe it has to be done on an Historic piano or a good replica therein. Some pianos, such as the dreaded "over-damper uprights"<G>, will give you that "sound" IMO..
To me, historic temperaments on a modern piano is like putting lipstick on a pig.
Just my inflated $ opinion. Flack suit, (new model), zipped up tight.



Joseph Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I
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