Temperament: Difference between revisions

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A '''temperament''' is a [[tuning system]] that slightly compromises the pure [[interval]]s of [[just intonation]] (or, more generally, of any ~~[[target~~ tuning]]) to meet other requirements.

A '''temperament''' is a [[tuning system]] that slightly compromises the pure [[interval]]s of [[just intonation]] (or more generally, of any tuning) to meet other requirements.

In regular temperament theory, the term ''temperament'' usually refers to a [[regular temperament]].

In regular temperament theory, the term ''temperament'' usually refers to a [[regular temperament]]. Besides that, there are irregular [[well temperament]]s, though analysis of well temperaments as specific tunings of regular temperaments is possible.

== History ==

In Western music history, the first ~~temperaments~~ to be described by theorists ~~were~~ [[meantone]] ~~temperaments~~, in the beginning of the 16th century. ~~These were~~ developed in an attempt to solve some of the issues of the [[Pythagorean tuning]], the most commonly used tuning system until then. In particular, the pure fifths ([[3/2]]) are slightly compromised in order to obtain either pure major thirds ([[5/4]]), in [[quarter-comma meantone]], or slightly compromised major thirds in other meantone ~~temperaments~~. The linear structure of meantone ~~temperaments~~ has laid the foundations for the development of [[regular temperament theory]].

In Western music history, the first temperament to be described by theorists was the [[meantone]] temperament, in the beginning of the 16th century. It was developed in an attempt to solve some of the issues of the [[Pythagorean tuning]], the most commonly used tuning system until then. In particular, the pure fifths ([[3/2]]) are slightly compromised in order to obtain either pure major thirds ([[5/4]]), in [[quarter-comma meantone]], or slightly compromised major thirds in other meantone tunings. The linear structure of meantone has laid the foundations for the development of [[regular temperament theory]].

Because meantone ~~temperaments have their~~ own issues, a new kind of temperaments appeared in the 17th century: [[well ~~temperament]]s~~. These have an irregular structure that allow for more flexibility in the way each note is tuned, and thus how each interval is compromised. As a result, most scales sound different when they are transposed to a different key.

Because 12-tone meantone (meantone[12]) has its own issues, a new kind of temperaments appeared in the 17th century: well temperaments. These have an irregular structure that allow for more flexibility in the way each note is tuned, and thus how each interval is compromised. As a result, most scales sound different when they are transposed to a different key.

== See also ==

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 {{Wikipedia|Musical temperament}}
-A '''temperament''' is a [[tuning system]] that slightly compromises the pure [[interval]]s of [[just intonation]] (or, more generally, of any [[target tuning]]) to meet other requirements.
+A '''temperament''' is a [[tuning system]] that slightly compromises the pure [[interval]]s of [[just intonation]] (or more generally, of any tuning) to meet other requirements.
-In regular temperament theory, the term ''temperament'' usually refers to a [[regular temperament]].
+In regular temperament theory, the term ''temperament'' usually refers to a [[regular temperament]]. Besides that, there are irregular [[well temperament]]s, though analysis of well temperaments as specific tunings of regular temperaments is possible.
 == History ==
-In Western music history, the first temperaments to be described by theorists were [[meantone]] temperaments, in the beginning of the 16th century. These were developed in an attempt to solve some of the issues of the [[Pythagorean tuning]], the most commonly used tuning system until then. In particular, the pure fifths ([[3/2]]) are slightly compromised in order to obtain either pure major thirds ([[5/4]]), in [[quarter-comma meantone]], or slightly compromised major thirds in other meantone temperaments. The linear structure of meantone temperaments has laid the foundations for the development of [[regular temperament theory]].
+In Western music history, the first temperament to be described by theorists was the [[meantone]] temperament, in the beginning of the 16th century. It was developed in an attempt to solve some of the issues of the [[Pythagorean tuning]], the most commonly used tuning system until then. In particular, the pure fifths ([[3/2]]) are slightly compromised in order to obtain either pure major thirds ([[5/4]]), in [[quarter-comma meantone]], or slightly compromised major thirds in other meantone tunings. The linear structure of meantone has laid the foundations for the development of [[regular temperament theory]].
-Because meantone temperaments have their own issues, a new kind of temperaments appeared in the 17th century: [[well temperament]]s. These have an irregular structure that allow for more flexibility in the way each note is tuned, and thus how each interval is compromised. As a result, most scales sound different when they are transposed to a different key.
+Because 12-tone meantone (meantone[12]) has its own issues, a new kind of temperaments appeared in the 17th century: well temperaments. These have an irregular structure that allow for more flexibility in the way each note is tuned, and thus how each interval is compromised. As a result, most scales sound different when they are transposed to a different key.
 == See also ==