[CAUT] Harpsichord transposing keyboard/ WT

[Kent Swafford]

If the keyboard is really being shifted regularly, you might want to  
think about using equal temperament.

I'm dealing with exactly the same question. We have a transposing  
harpsichord that I have been keeping in well temperament.

However, I've been given notice that an upcoming concert will require  
A=415. In preparation, I have been checking out the instrument and I  
find that the lowest note, unused except when the keyboard is shifted,  
does not even play, and will have to be repaired. This suggests that  
the shift capability has gone unused.

I'm planning to retune the well temperament for the concert. In the  
future, if I ever find the action shifted down, it is very likely I'll  
switch the instrument to equal temperament.


Kent



On Jul 18, 2008, at 6:43 PM, Jim Busby wrote:

> List,
>
> If you tune a WT, which has a certain characteristic for each key,  
> then someone wants to shift the keyboard to play at A415, should you  
> retune it to maintain the key characteristics? IOW If the key of C  
> as a tonality is fairly clean but C# has a lot more movement, by  
> shifting the keyboard to A425 I’ve essentially changed the essence  
> of the perceived key qualities. Should I retune?
>
> I’m using Werkmeister III and one day the keyboard will be in A440  
> then the next A415, then back. Or… should I not worry about it?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Busby BYU

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