[CAUT] 1/4 tone piano conversion

[Jim Busby]

Andrew,

I hate to say a dirty word here but many electronic keyboards (booo!) can be programmed for various applications. I had one years ago that would split the octave many ways. (I think up to 31 notes?)

If he has never played on such a piano or seen even one maybe he simply doesn't have an idea what he really wants. If he has, and knows exactly what it feels like to play on then that's a different story...

Jim Busby BYU

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Anderson
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 10:28 AM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] 1/4 tone piano conversion

He explained it to me as an upright that had been converted.  Quite
possibly it was two pianos as described.  I'll have to pin him down
on more details.  My first reaction was, you can't do that with this
type of piano, you'll have to buy a Sauter Microtonal piano (problem
is it does 1/16" tone)
http://www.sauter-pianos.de/english/pianos/microtone.html.
He was insistent on the possibility and then I explained how bass
strings would break and how the treble would go dead.  Not having
much experience here I said I would inquire into the possibility of
re-scaling the piano to do the job.  I think I have the answer
though. :-)  Much easier to do two especially when playing...imagine
one octave every 24 keys.  He could...

Andrew Anderson

At 10:49 AM 12/3/2007, you wrote:
>Andrew,
>
>I'm curious what the composer is really looking for - is this something
>he has seen before, or is he doing it as an original project to be
>played on one piano only? I've seen the microtonal piano (is it Seiler?)
>at conventions, but it's designed from the ground up that way - no
>conversion possible.
>
>If he really is asking for 1/2 steps to be changed to 1/4 steps, that
>really isn't possible, as Ron said.  You could just shove the pitch down
>for the treble, but it would sound awful, as the tension would be so
>crazy low for the string lengths.  In the bass, though, you would have
>to raise the pitch way high and would likely start to break strings in
>octave 3 - octaves 0 and 1 wouldn't be close to workable.  A redesign
>down there would be tough - but might be able to be accomplished with a
>new soundboard and bridges.
>
>However, if he is after a 1/4 tone piano duet arrangement, that is
>simpler.  This is what the Charles Ives pieces are written for - 2
>pianos tuned 1/4 tone apart.  Much easier all around!
>
>I would ask him if he has ever seen a piano set up this way, and if
>there is someone he knows to consult with about that instrument.  Bring
>up the duet arrangement just in case he isn't familiar with that idea
>(although I'm pretty sure he will be).
>
>Don Mannino
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
>Andrew Anderson
>Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 7:29 AM
>To: College and University Technicians
>Subject: [CAUT] 1/4 tone piano conversion
>
>Caut Listmembers,
>I have a request from the composer in residence here to convert a
>Baldwin upright school-piano (late 70s early 80s vintage) into a
>quarter-tone piano.  He suggested keeping C4 at standard pitch.  I
>explained the need for rescaling and he still really wants the entire
>piano permanently converted.
>
>Has anyone done this?  Are there string-scale people out there willing
>to take re-scaling this on?  Has anyone programmed an ETD to do this
>(sorry I only do ET & WT(s) aurally).  I have a Verituner; has anyone
>programmed it for 1/4 tone tunings?
>
>Andrew C. Anderson
>for Laredo Community College