Alternative piano tunings

Hello
Is it possible to tune a piano to a temperament with more notes than 12 ?
Has anyone tried 19ET or 31ET or anything else?

Alexandros Papadopoulos wrote:
> Hello
> Is it possible to tune a piano to a temperament with more notes
> than 12?

No, the "scale" (choice of string lengths, etc.) will not allow
it. With two exceptions:

1. You can take different subsets of a larger tuning in different
octaves.

2. You could use a custom (non-standard) piano.

> Has anyone tried 19ET or 31ET or anything else?

Carillo used approach #2 for many of the different multiples
of 12.

-Carl

In a message dated 10/5/02 2:14:28 PM Central Daylight Time, clumma@yahoo.com
writes:

> > Is it possible to tune a piano to a temperament with more notes
> > than 12?
>
> No, the "scale" (choice of string lengths, etc.) will not allow
> it.

Theoretically it could be done. But the piano would have to be larger, or
have a double stringing, with one set of hammers striking the bottom and the
other striking the top. Or some other impractical system. Or some way to fret
the strings.

Harpsichords have up to three manuals. So having moee notes would be easier
with them.

Pauline

prophecyspirit@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 10/5/02 2:14:28 PM Central Daylight Time, > clumma@yahoo.com writes:
> > >> > Is it possible to tune a piano to a temperament with more notes
>> > than 12?
>>

> > Harpsichords have up to three manuals. So having moee notes would be > easier with them.

You could do what Charles Ives did for his quarter-tone pieces, just tune two pianos to your scale. It would not be quite as simple as there would be some notes that are missing on each of the keyboards, while some notes would have to be shared.

Of course, this might not be a possible luxury...

Mike

>>No, the "scale" (choice of string lengths, etc.) will not allow
>>it.
>
>Theoretically it could be done. But the piano would have to be
>larger, or have a double stringing, with one set of hammers
>striking the bottom and the other striking the top. Or some other
>impractical system.

Pianos are already triple-strung through much of their range.
Michael Harrison has an instrument with a modified una corda
system that allows him to get 24 tones / octave, though only
12 at a time. His CD, _From Ancient Worlds_, was recorded with
this instrument, and is highly recommended.

A better, but slightly more involved solution, is to build a
generalized-keyboard piano with more keys / octave.

>Harpsichords have up to three manuals. So having moee notes would
>be easier with them.

Indeed. It's come up here before. I've played a 19-tone
generalized-keyboard harpsichord, though only for a few
hours. It was fun. :)

-Carl

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@yahoo.com>

> Pianos are already triple-strung through much of their range.
> Michael Harrison has an instrument with a modified una corda
> system that allows him to get 24 tones / octave, though only
> 12 at a time. His CD, _From Ancient Worlds_, was recorded with
> this instrument, and is highly recommended.

He's moved on. That instrument still exists, but current
works (Revelation) use the venues piano, tuned to his tuning.

* David Beardsley
* http://biink.com
* http://mp3.com/davidbeardsley

> From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@yahoo.com>

> A better, but slightly more involved solution, is to build a
> generalized-keyboard piano with more keys / octave.

One keyboard controlling six pianos would give you a 72-et "piano". Now
you need to learn to play it!

In a message dated 10/6/02 12:06:07 AM Central Daylight Time,
clumma@yahoo.com writes:

> I've played a 19-tone
> generalized-keyboard harpsichord, though only for a few
> hours. It was fun. :)
>
> -Carl
>
Harsichords with multiple manuals may have octave-pitch stops--16', 8' and
4'. So no doubt tuning stops could be added.

Pauline

>> Pianos are already triple-strung through much of their range.
>> Michael Harrison has an instrument with a modified una corda
>> system that allows him to get 24 tones / octave, though only
>> 12 at a time. His CD, _From Ancient Worlds_, was recorded with
>> this instrument, and is highly recommended.
>
> He's moved on. That instrument still exists, but current
> works (Revelation) use the venues piano, tuned to his tuning.

I heard him perform some 12-tone 7-limit stuff in '99, though
I didn't think it was as good as his Rose stuff. He said that
he wasn't playing the Harmonic Piano much. Also in '99, I
heard him do a concert in 12-equal... one piece, Africa (I think),
was incredible.

-Carl

>>I've played a 19-tone generalized-keyboard harpsichord, though
>>only for a few hours. It was fun. :)
>>
>Harsichords with multiple manuals may have octave-pitch stops--
>16', 8' and 4'. So no doubt tuning stops could be added.

Yep, that's how he did it.

-C.