The Acme A1 Temperament

[John Formsma]

Alan,

I'm not sure why ET has achieved near-universal dominance in modern
piano tuning. But...one possible reason is that tuning ET is faster
once you have established the bearing octave. It's particularly faster
if you tune ET all the time and it becomes second nature.  Those
ascending/descending chromatic tests are great for identifying errors.

I know when I tune non-equally, I have to listen more carefully. With
ET, the fifths have the "same" sound, as do the fourths. Knowing this,
you can get into a faster rhythm, then refine with appropriate
chromatic tests.

With a non-equal temperament, you have to know how each interval is
supposed to sound. E.g., which fifths/fourths are pure, or how
contracted/expanded the intervals are relative to other intervals.

Just a thought.

I like non-equal temperaments better for musicality, but I also like
*tuning* ET for its rigid precision. It's good practice anyway.

JF

On 6/30/07, Alan Barnard <tune4u at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> So how come the pretty much whole world has settled on ET as the tuning goal
> of choice?
>
> Not challenging anyone's opinion or ability here (I've never even heard a
> Coleman 11 or EBVT tuning), it's just a response to the comment that they
> would be better sounding than ET. Is that a key-specific observation?
>
> Alan Barnard
> Salem, MO
>
>
>  ________________________________
> Original message
> From: "Jon Page"
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Received: 6/30/2007 8:30:46 AM
> Subject: The Acme A1 Temperament
>
>
>
>
> "And this the proof why this tempermant is superior to any other." BS
> "WHOA! How can you possibly say that? I have heard many great tunings," DA
>
> Put it up against a mild WT such as Coleman 11 or EBVT and I bet
> it would take a back seat as ET usually does.     --
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Page