The Just Intonation Piano

The music starts in Equal Temperament and then switches to Just Intonation.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• equal
• temperament
• just
• intonation
• wohltemperierte
• stimmung
• Schubert
• Impromptu
• opus
• op
• 90
• Nr.

[Corwinslack]

Isn't it so that there is never one just intonation in a piece that modulates between keys? My hear isn't so great but it isn't clear to me that there were adjustments. But if there were what we're they?

[MucusFelidae]

@Corwinslack "there were adjustments"

No, this one runs straight through from the point where it says "JUST".

Therefore some tension on some chords.

With MIDI control it is possible to adjust every single note on modern synthis, but MIDI is somewhat outdated because too slow.

[volk410]

One thing about all the "just vs. equal" videos I've watched is that it almost invariably involves a piano or piano-like keyboard whose pitches decay. It would be great to have real, live examples demonstrating the differences between the two tuning systems, with performances on strings, or perhaps a choral ensemble. The performers, obviously, would have to be thoroughly trained in the nuances of just and equal systems, but it would be much more revealing than piano pieces. (Sorry, Schubert.)

[MucusFelidae]

@volk410: I have 2 other pieces on my channel, watch the Radioactive Tubes and the Sor #19. They both are in just intonation. Does not need much to recognize. And the Pachelbel Canon, but that has bad tonal quality due to YOUTUBE.

Guitar and most piano music have to be equally tempered because there is no other way to build the instruments. Thanks to the Japanese we have electronic synthesizers now, they bring back music to our ears. I turn away from music which is not sweetened, except guitar

[komponis]

I teach gamelan and composition at Harvard on an ensemble named Si Betty, built by Lou Harrison and William Colvig. It is tuned in a Just Intonation that also approximates the slendro and pelog scales of Central Java.

I have played on these instruments for 30 years; they sound totally normal. So in the example in this clip, I found it just lovely all the way through, and never noticed any difference at all! :-)

[MucusFelidae]

@komponis Methinks it is better first listen for a while to just intonation and then switch to equal temperament. The other way round I did in that clip.

[borjeman]

@PhantomKode Thats because we are used to the equal tempered. The just intonation has the mathematically correct distance between tones but the problem is that it cant be transposed into other modes without retuning the instrument. Because its mathematically correct the just intonation doesnt beat at all spectrums like the equal tempered does.

[Corwinslack]

Where would one find authoritative guidance for performing Romantic era repertory with extensive key changes etc in just intonation? Are there any books or monographs?

[PhantomKode]

The just sounds ever so slightly out of tune.

[Rheostatik]

Whoever taught you to play the final chord of each phrase as staccato taught you wrong. It doesn't sound nice.

[RoboticusMusic]

@kwixotic You're kidding. It's night and day. Close your eyes and you can see the waves syncing rather than beating out of tune like in equal temperament.