Equal Beating Victorian Temperament (Equal Beating Victorianized Modified Meantone Temperament) Instructions for Aural Tuning (With

Tempered Octaves) 1. 2. 3. Tune A4 to A-440 pitch source. Tune A3 to A4, stretching the octave to a a 6:3 type. Temper E4 from A3, a narrow 5th, a little more than an Equal Temperament (ET) 5th but still slightly less than 1 beat per second. This is an estimate and may be checked or adjusted later, if necessary. Listen to the 4th, E4-A4. It should beat faster than the 5th, A3-E4 but should not be faster than 2 beats per second. Temper C4 from E4, a wide Major 3rd to beat approximately 6 beats per second. (Half the speed of the same interval in ET.) Temper G3 from E4, a wide Major 6th so that it beats exactly the same as the C4-E4 3rd. (Approximately 6 beats per second). Temper B3 from G3, a wide Major 3rd so that it beats exactly the same as both the C4-E4 3rd and the G3-E4 6th. (Approximately 6 beats per second). Temporarily tune D4 a pure 4th from A4 then notice the strong beat in the 5th G3-D4 and sharpen D4 until the beat is exactly the same in both the G3-D4 5th and the A3-D4 4th. (Faster than the same interval in ET.) Tune F3 a pure 5th from C4. To check this interval, use G#2 as the test note and prove that the Ab2-F3 6th beats exactly the same as the Ab2-C4 10th. Tune F4 a pure 4th from C4. To check this interval, use G#3 as the test note and prove that the 3rd Ab3-C4 beats exactly the same as the Ab3-F4 6th. Verify the F3-F4 octave. Using the test for a pure 5th which chooses the lowest coincident partial of F3 & C4 and the test for the pure 4th C4-F4 will yield a properly stretched octave, usually a compromise between a 4:2 & 6:3 type. Check the speed of the 3rd, F3-A3. It should beat exactly the same or very similarly to the 3rds G3-B3 and C4-E4. If it is too slow, adjust the note, E4 slightly flatter and begin the sequence again. If too fast, adjust E4 slightly sharper and restart the sequence. Tune Bb3 a pure 5th from F4. Use the test note C#3 to prove that the Db3-Bb3 6th beats exactly the same as the Db3-F4 10th. Listen to the resultant 3rd, Bb3-D4. Temper C#4 so that the A3-C#4 3rd beats exactly the same as the Bb3-D4 3rd. Tune F#3 a pure 5th from C#4. Use the test note A2 to prove that the A2-F#3 6th beats exactly the same as the A2-C#4 10th. Tune G#3 a pure 4th from C#4. Use the test note E3 to prove that the E3-G#3 3rd beats exactly the same as the E3-C#4 6th. The Ab3-C4 3rd will beat exactly the same as the F#3-A#3 3rd. Temporarily tune D#4 a pure 5th from G#3 then notice the slight beat between D#4 & A#3 and flatten D#4 until the G#3-D#4 5th beats exactly the same as the A#3-D#4 4th. It will be a very slight beat, less than the same interval in ET. The B3-D#4 3rd will beat very rapidly, at least as fast as the F#3-A#3 & Ab3-C4 3rds below and similar to but perhaps not quite as fast as the C#4-F4 3rd above. When expanding the octaves do so in a manner which will cause the 2nd inversion major triads of C, G, D, A, E, & B to have the 3rd & 6th beat exactly the same. The octave should be stretched enough so that there is a very slight beat in the single octave (approximately 1/2 beat per second) and that the tempered 5th will beat slower than the 4th. When both the 4th and the 5th were pure in the temperament, the

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octave will naturally be stretched a little less than an octave whose 4th and 5th are tempered. 19. When expanding the outer octaves, try to reconcile the double octave and the octave and a 5th (12th) so that the double octave and the 12th beat exactly the same. (A very slight beat, almost inaudible). This will naturally result in octaves which vary slightly in size up and down the keyboard. These will quite effectively be "tempered octaves". F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D# E 1.41 -2.97 2.81 0.80 -1.69 -0.06 -1.11 3.66 -0.71 0.12 0.31 -2.55

Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin