historical temperaments

[jason kanter]

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For Bach specifically, the Werckmeister is widely used, although there are a
few other contenders. Go to my website
http://rollingball.com/TemperamentsFrames.htm to see a lot of graphs
representing the range of thirds and fifths in each of the temperaments.
Bradley Lehman more recently offers one on his website,
http://www.larips.com/ , using the following offsets which he deduces from
Bach's markings on the Anna Magdalena manuscript:

Eb 3.9
Bb 3.9
F 7.8
C 5.9
G 3.9
D 2.0
A 0.0
E -2.0
B 0.0
F# 2.0
C# 3.9
G# 3.9

Note, however, these offsets are all sharp except E, so this will put a lot
of additional tension on the piano. To equalize the tension, try:
Eb +1
Bb +1
F +4.9
C +3
G +1
D -0.9
A -2.9
E -4.9
B -2.9
F# -0.9
C# +1
G# +1

Also be aware that a temperament cannot really be reduced to cents, which
are approximations at best. The historic temperaments were usually set by
measures like "set this third as sharp as the ear can bear" - or in some
cases certain fifths were tuned perfect while others were tuned "as flat as
the ear can bear".

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Jason Kanter . piano tuning regulation repair
jkanter@rollingball.com . cell 425 830 1561
serving the eastside and the san juans
  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
Behalf Of Michael Gamble
  Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 2:08 PM
  To: jonathan stuchell
  Cc: pianotech@ptg.org
  Subject: Re: historical temperaments


  Hello Jonathan
  First - how much time have you got? There's a lot of information out there
about "temperaments". This type of tuning is used mainly on historic type
instruments: real square pianos (circa late 1700s) Harpsichords and
Fortepianos. The temperament we use at Glyndebourne is Vallotti. In fact I
have to tune a Kawai grand to this temperament to use with a Harpsichord in
rehearsal for Bill Christie. The variation from equal temperament is as
follows:
   a:0   a#:+6.0  b:+2.0  c:+6.0  c#:0.0  d:+2.0  d#:+4.0  e:-2.0  f:+8.0
f#:-2:0  g:+4.0  g#:+2.0

  The "wildest" off pitch temperament is "Werkmeister-III" where:
  a:0  a#:+17.5  b:-7.0  c:+10.5  c#:-13.5  d:+2.5  d#:+20.5  e:-3.5
f:+13.5  f#:-10.0  g:+7.0  g#:-17.0

  Lambert(1774) is closest to equal temp.

  I shall stop there and put on my flame suit for daring to suggest anything
so OT as "temperaments"

  Regards from darkest Sussex
  Michael G.(UK)
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: jonathan stuchell
    To: Michael Gamble
    Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 4:48 PM
    Subject: historical temperament


      Hello,

            I want to start using historical temperaments.  How do I go
about this?  I use a Peterson virtual strobe tuner which has settings for
Young,
    Werkmeister, Kirnberger, Pythagorean, Kellner etc.  I would like to use
one from J.S. Bach's time.  Information seems hard to find.  Im very
interested, because I favor the Baroque period.  Also, Baroque instruments
are becoming popular.  Hope you can give me some advice!



       Thanks,


    Jonathan Stuchell





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