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Ancient Temperaments
Pythagorean: Pythagoras (582-500 B.C.) was a brilliant Greek theorist and mathematician.
The Pythagorean temperament is characterized by pure fifths and fourths. The Pythagorean
theory founded a diatonic scale which served as a model throughout the Middle Ages.
Mean-Tone: Mean-Tone temperament improves on the Pythagorean tuning by slightly
contracting each of the four fifths needed to generate a major third. Major thirds and in-tune
fifths are slightly narrow, and the differences between the major and minor seconds are
smoothed out. Many artists now prefer Mean-Tone temperaments when performing 15th
through 17th century repertoire.
J.S. Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier, written in 1722 and between 1738 and 1742, is a collection
of 24 paired preludes and fugues written in every major and minor key. The title refers to the use
of a temperament in which all keys are satisfactorily in tune, but not necessarily an absolutely
equal temperament.
Well Temperaments
Kirnberger: Johann Philipp Kirnberger (1721-1783) was a German composer and pupil of
Bach from 1739 and 1741. His temperament favored pure fifths, as in the Pythagorean
model, but performance was improved in many keys.
Werckmeister I and III: Andreas Werckmeister experimented with temperaments in the latter
part of the 17th century. In Werckmeister I he further refined the Mean-Tone temperament.
In Werckmeister III, four tones are practically tuned identical to Equal Temperament (C, D#,
F# and A).
Young I and II: Young Temperaments offer further refinements to the Mean-Tone model,
except with slightly higher pitched sharps.
Equal: Equal Temperament is the modern standard which utilizes a succession of 12
semitones of equal size, allowing performance in all keys successfully. The fifths are slightly
narrowed and the upward thirds are considerably sharp, but unlimited modulation from key
to key is possible.
Selecting a Temperament
To select a temperament:
1. Press and release the
QUICKMENU
piston.
2. Rotate the Select knob until
Pipe Modeling
is highlighted.
3. Press
QUICKMENU
to select the Pipe Modeling category.
4. Rotate the Select knob to until
Temperament
is highlighted.
5. Press
QUICKMENU
to select Temperament. The following screen is displayed:
