Effect of Unequal Temperament on piano and instrument resonance and sonority of keys

This demonstration shows how an instrument tuned to Unequal Temperament responds differently in different keys.

Pure intervals in the "good" keys resonate with harmonics of lower notes and how there is no resonance for keys in which the notes are not tuned to the harmonics. Such keys will be "empty" of harmonic content, "root"less as I call them, without harmonic root and certainly Liszt used B major in such a manner. One might possibly use the phrase "harmonic accordance" to describe what is going on . . .

In equal temperament, none of the notes are on harmonic resonances so any resonating harmonics will either be shortened or will produce beating effects. Worse, they will be all the same in all keys!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Piano
• instrument
• tuning
• unequal
• temperament
• Chopin
• Liszt
• organ
• harmonics
• harmonic
• structure
• accordance
• resonance

[MucusFelidae]

Why is it that some notes "sing" and others don't?

[latribe]

@MucusFelidae It's because they are tuned, just as you tune a radio to a radio station, microtonally so that perfect intervals sing and enhance the sound of the whole instrument. The instrument when played then becomes one sound in some keys rather than a collection of notes in all keys, as pianos are conventionally tuned. It turns out that 19th century composers expected instruments to be tuned this way. Tuning an instrument is not about tuning notes - it's how they interact

[SquallPwnLife]

could you please tell me which (if any) intervals are entirely pure and/or point me in the direction of a temperament diagram which is close to this? sounds lovely

[latribe]

@SquallPwnLife Hi! I can't tell you exactly which temperament this is as I want Adolfo Barabino to do the first CD recordings of Bach, Chopin and Liszt with it without anyone else beating him to his rightful place as a pioneer . . . ! However, the secret of this temperament, which is on the scale of the series of temperaments between Valotti-Young and Kirnberger III is lots of perfect fifths. Thirds are pure-ish where there are tempered fifths and perfect fifths where there are wide thirds

[amezcuaist]

The French Horn. Make `em ave it my son !

[piper102206]

Facinating!

[TheGlassDot]

The clusters are very cool with the triads ringing out longer than the notes around them....very interesting. I wish I could experiment with this. 

[KarlAmade]

God, that is lovely - I have always wanted tu unequally temperate my piano!

[eriksensei2]

loved the horn improvisation