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  4. Is Wohltemperiert Klavier tuning possible by using VLS?

  • Is Wohltemperiert Klavier tuning possible by using VLS?

    L
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     "Well temperament" is not the same as "Equal temperament" ? Is is possible to tune VLS instrument for Well temperament? Or do any other SW instrument packages?

  • A
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    I retuned some of the patches to wohltemperierte Stimmung
  • L
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     Please tell a little bit more.
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    It was around the middle of the 19th century when the equal temperament was generally accepted. In the time of Johann Sebastian Bach the two tunings "gleichschwebende Temperatur" and wohltemperiert" were both known. It is not known what tuning system Johann Sebastian Bach was using for his instruments. The best proceeding to monitor an approximation of the affect a well tempered tuning system has, is to play a fugue or prälude of Johann Sebastian Bach, for example on a keyboard tuned to Kirnberger.

    Kirnberger III in C (cent / Note):

    0000,000 = C

    0090,225 = Cis (phrygian Des)

    0193.157 = D

    0294,135 = Es

    0386,314 = E (pure third)

    0498,045 = F

    0590,224 = Fis (pure fourth)

    0696,578 = G (non pure fifth)

    0792,180 = Gis

    0889,735 = A

    0996,089 = H

    1088,268 = B

    1200,000 = C

    Andreas Werckmeister, as well Johann Georg Neidhardt said that in their tuning systems the key of C sounds the best, and purest, and the key of Db the worst. Johann Phillip Kirnberger, a pupil of Bach, published in 1779 a system of tuning in his book: "Die Kunst des reinen Satzes" (engl: "The Art of Strict Composition in Music"). However, some musicians think that Kirnberger III is the tuning system used by Johann Sebastian Bach.

    But Johann Sebastian tuned his keyboard instrument all by himself, as well the organs; and Phillip Emmanuel Bach said, no one else could tune the harpsichord of his father to his satisfaction. Bach had a precise concept on properties of harmonies, and the effect by using a certain tonality in a composition. Bach used harmonies, and modulations to distant tonalities as an extra expression. In Bach's music, tonalities have specific "Aussagekraft" (force of expression), and Bach used to change into tonalities for a particular effect ("musikalischer Affekt und Tonalität").

    Some people think that it would be best to enjoy music when all intervals and harmonies are played pure. This is of course not possible as soon modulations are made to other tonal center then the instruments are tuned to. However, there is a software which forces modulations into the correct temperament all thru a composiotion, no matter where it modulates to.

    I think Johann Sebastian Bach composed his "Das Wohltemperirte Clavier, oder Praeludia, und Fugen durch alle Tone und Semitonia", to be played on an instrument tuned in a well tempered tuning system, but as said, Bach's tuning system is not known, we can only speculate what it was.

    When we play, for example the 48 preludes and fugues, on a modern pianoforte tuned to equal temprerament, the expressions Johann Sebastian Bach had in mind are not to be heard

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    last edited
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    @Angelo Clematide said:

    there is a software which forces modulations into the correct temperament all thru a composiotion, no matter where it modulates to.

    That's very interesting can it be done by using VSL and how?

    Regards

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    That's the company which makes this program:

    http://www.hermode.com/index_en.html

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  • L
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     Thanks but can one use it with VSL?
  • PaulP Paul moved this topic from Orchestration & Composition on