RE: [tuning] Microtonal Tuning...

Steven Kallstrom wrote,

>I also asked this question on the harpsichord list, but thought I
>should ask you too... I am looking to perform a piece in 12ET, that has
>the two manual of the harpsichord tuned a quarter-step different (lower I
>think). I don't have any tuning equipment and have always tuned by ear,
>does anyone have any suggestions on how I should go about this.

How do you tune 12tET by ear? Assuming you can really do that accurately,
the usual approach is to tune the quarter-tone flat F# to the 11th harmonic
of the normal C three octaves lower (you'll only be 1 cent off true
quartertones if you do this right). This should be much easier to accomplish
by ear than the tuning of any 12-tET interval.

>Also, I am looking to add some mean-tone pieces to my harpsichord
>recital if any one has any suggestions,

Try some Byrd, Sweelinck, Handel, Telemann, etc. etc. (just about any
Renaissance or non-Bach Baroque harpsichord pieces). Even much Scarlatti and
Mozart would be appropriate.

At 04:33 PM 6/7/00 -0400, you wrote:
>Steven Kallstrom wrote,
>
>>I also asked this question on the harpsichord list, but thought I
>>should ask you too... I am looking to perform a piece in 12ET, that has
>>the two manual of the harpsichord tuned a quarter-step different (lower I
>>think). I don't have any tuning equipment and have always tuned by ear,
>>does anyone have any suggestions on how I should go about this.
Well, here's the way I was taught to do it. Let's assume that you've tuned
the higher-pitched manual and can lay a decent equal temperament. I first
tune one note, say a C or an A, on the lower-pitched instrument fo that the
beats between it and the standard C are a bug's-ass quicker than the beats
between it and the B. Then I tune one tempered octave on the lower-pitched
instrument. Now for the ear test. On the lower instrument play an ascending
pattern: C E flat, C sharp E, d f, etc., in other words, ascending minor
thirds ascending chromatically.
On the higher keyboard you simultaneously play _descending Major seconds
ascending chromatically: D C, E flat D flat, E D, etc. If the two
instruments are truly a aquartertone apart you shoule hear a harmonic
interval that is 5 quartertones wide ascending by quartertones. I can't
vouch for the _mathematical precision, but musically, you can really hear
when that progression is consistent.
As for ferreting out the 11th that Paul's talking about, I don't think I
could do that by ear and anyway, could I really depend on the string's
harmonics to be true enough to use that as my reference? Interesting idea,
though.
Here's Paul's comments again. >
>How do you tune 12tET by ear? Assuming you can really do that accurately,
>the usual approach is to tune the quarter-tone flat F# to the 11th harmonic
>of the normal C three octaves lower (you'll only be 1 cent off true
>quartertones if you do this right). This should be much easier to accomplish
>by ear than the tuning of any 12-tET interval.
>
>>Also, I am looking to add some mean-tone pieces to my harpsichord
>>recital if any one has any suggestions,
>
>Try some Byrd, Sweelinck, Handel, Telemann, etc. etc. (just about any
>Renaissance or non-Bach Baroque harpsichord pieces). Even much Scarlatti and
>Mozart would be appropriate.
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Old school buds here:
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