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Putting Unequal Temperament to the test in 5, 6 and 7 accidentals

Started by David Pinnegar, October 20, 2010, 12:50:36 AM

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David Pinnegar

Hi!

I tuned a piano for a concert the other night specifically to trial what romantic composers could be doing with effects of temperament in far keys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9vbJxPhN3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nr4xw6wm8c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74BCzJbkiig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPLIanjtWlk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x8L4Cvdv9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCmXb49S7rQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7-WzQhPlQ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQH9ZSDQNk and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGJAzBK5x84

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJtjS-hAqu4 and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poYNFloS8JY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9RmzEwVD28

There are problems with the piano action which are offputting to the performer and prevent him from giving of his best. Don't be put off by odd tuning - does it express something? Was it intended to be heard that way? There is possibly one note repeated in one piece that sounds very odd, but not again. Perhaps it's my tuning - although odd as it doesn't repeat elsewhere, perhaps the harmony, perhaps the piano which might do such a thing on loud notes.

Hope it's interesting and hope you enjoy it.

I'd like to be doing things like this with a good organist on a temperament equipped organ . . .

Best wishes

David P

David Pinnegar

Hi!

This morning the pianist and I  have been through the list of videos, annotating them properly with the composers, items and keys in use. Schumann, Liszt, Schubert and Chopin are represented among them and keys include B major, D flat major and F sharp major. Who would ever have thought these keys would be usable in anything except Equal Temperament?

Welcome to Bach's Well Tempered instrument in which the key adds to the expression.

The performances are exceptional and are a rare opportunity to hear these works so beautifully played.

Best wishes

David P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9vbJxPhN3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nr4xw6wm8c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74BCzJbkiig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPLIanjtWlk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x8L4Cvdv9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCmXb49S7rQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7-WzQhPlQ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQH9ZSDQNk and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGJAzBK5x84

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJtjS-hAqu4 and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poYNFloS8JY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9RmzEwVD28

revtonynewnham

Hi

Very interesting.  What flavour of unequal temperament are you using?

I found the effect quite mild - but with a bit of unexpected colour - more noticeable in some pieces than others - obviously, as it depends on the key of the piece.  It would be interesting to hear the later (in date) pieces in ET as well, by way of a comparison - but then ET didn't become common in the organ world in the UK until after 1850 - not sure about the date of adoption in other musical spheres.

Every Blessing

Tony