I Wish!( 2nd topic)

[Terry Neely]

I wonder if anyone has done research on wind instruments of the periods being
discussed. Although these instruments are adjustable, instruments such as the
clarinet, flute, etc. have a fixed relationship between the notes in the scale. It
would seem that this relationship would be fixed by the manufacturer in the
temperament style in use at that time.
Terry Neely  Cary NC

A440A@AOL.COM wrote:

> David writes:
> >There does seem to be this notion that ET was not possible on the instruments
> >of that day.  This idea has been promulgated by Jorgensen and others.
>
>  Greetings,
>      Um,  could we clarify this a little?  I don't think Jorgensen posited
> that the instruments were the problem, (ET is as easily tuned on the
> fortepiano as it is on a modern one, in my limited experience).  Rather, the
> technolgy, in the form of the tests required, was lacking.  When was it
> available and how long would it plausibly have taken to displace the status
> quo, (MT and WT).
>      Seems to me that the "Riddle" was not the existance of ET, but rather,
> how to go about achieving it.  An analogy to creating ET might be the Rubik's
> cube.  Both are very simple concepts, just put all like colors on each side,
> or simply space all those 12 notes equidistant from one another.  However,
> the interrelated nature of the components makes either of these a very
> complicated enterprise to actually achieve, especially since the sound dies
> away on a strung instrument,(Mersenne suggests that ET wouldn't be possible
> on the harpsichords because the pitches had to be judged by ear,as opposed to
> placing lute and viol frets).  Tuning ET without a specific plan would be
> more akin to solving a Rubik's cube puzzle when you had to turn out the
> lights and change the position of the cube every 5 seconds.  That doesn't
> sound simple to me!
>    Without a specific plan of action, I don't think the solution to either of
> these two puzzles would be within the grasp of the overwhelming majority of
> those attempting it.  So, when was the first indication that interval tests
> such as the M3-m3 or the M3-6th were being employed?
> Regards,
> Ed Foote