Quick Answer
Meantone temperament is a musical tuning system that strikes a balance between the purity of harmonic intervals and the practicalities of playing music. Developed to overcome the limitations of earlier tuning systems, it allows for more harmonious and pleasing sounds in keyboard and other fixed-pitch instruments. Meantone temperament bridges historical practices with modern musical applications, offering unique tonal qualities that enrich both performance and appreciation. Understanding its origins and evolution deepens our appreciation for its role in shaping the music we enjoy today.
What Is the History of Meantone Temperament?
Picture the Renaissance, a time when musicians struggled with tuning systems that made compositions sound heavenly in one key yet dreadful in another. This era of creative chaos gave rise to meantone temperament.
Its roots lie in the quest for a tuning system that could provide consistent harmony across various keys. Earlier systems, like Pythagorean tuning, prioritized perfect fifths but left some intervals sounding less than ideal. Musicians and theorists started adjusting these fifths to make thirds—crucial for harmony—sound sweeter. This led to the meantone temperament, which aimed to average thirds to a more consonant sound.
During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, meantone temperament thrived. It was the secret ingredient that enabled composers like Monteverdi and Bach to create music with emotional depth and complexity. This tuning system allowed lush harmonies and dramatic contrasts, transforming church organs and harpsichords into instruments of emotional storytelling.
Yet, as with any good story, there’s a twist. While meantone offered beautiful harmony in some keys, it rendered others less usable, sparking debates and misconceptions that persist today. This brings us to explore what people often misunderstand about meantone temperament.
What Are Common Misconceptions About Meantone Temperament?
A frequent misconception is equating meantone temperament with equal temperament. I once debated with a fellow musician who insisted that meantone was merely an old-fashioned term for equal temperament. It’s understandable, given that both systems aim to balance intervals. However, meantone specifically focuses on pure major thirds, while equal temperament divides the octave into twelve equal parts, making all intervals slightly imperfect but universally usable.
Another misunderstanding is the perceived restrictiveness of meantone temperament. Some believe it’s only suitable for a few keys. While meantone indeed excels in certain keys and sounds off in others, its unique tonal color can be a delightful feature rather than a flaw. I recall playing a harpsichord concert in meantone tuning, where its character left an unforgettable impression. The audience was captivated by the distinct tonal qualities, especially when the music transitioned between keys.
To dispel these misconceptions, it’s important to appreciate meantone for what it is: a system offering a rich palette of sounds, albeit with some trade-offs. This understanding empowers musicians to make informed decisions about when and how to use it, whether delving into historical pieces or experimenting with contemporary compositions.
Exploring these choices leads us to compare meantone with other tuning systems, unveiling new possibilities for musical expression.
How Does Meantone Compare to Other Tuning Systems?
Comparing meantone temperament to other tuning systems is like comparing apples to a whole fruit basket. Let’s start with equal temperament, the most familiar system today. Equal temperament divides the octave into twelve equal parts, ensuring consistent semitones across all keys without worrying about discordant notes. However, it sacrifices interval purity, resulting in slightly out-of-tune thirds compared to meantone.
Meantone, by contrast, focuses on pure major thirds. I recall playing Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” on a harpsichord tuned in meantone, where the chords resonated so beautifully it felt like each note had its own spotlight. The trade-off is that meantone can make some keys sound less harmonious, particularly those beyond its range of “friendly” keys.
Enter just intonation, a system aligning closely with the natural harmonic series, making intervals like the major third perfectly consonant. The downside? It can only be perfectly in tune in one key at a time, complicating modulation. Meantone sits in between, offering a balanced approach by tempering intervals to work better across several keys.
Understanding these differences is crucial for musicians. It’s akin to having different paintbrushes, each offering unique possibilities for artistic expression. Whether exploring historical music or new sonic landscapes, the choice of temperament can be a powerful tool. For those delving deep into music theory and harmony, a tool like Piano Companion can be incredibly helpful. This music theory app acts as a flexible piano chord and scale dictionary, assisting songwriters, producers, teachers, and students in understanding and applying various musical structures.
What Are the Modern Applications of Meantone Temperament?
Meantone temperament isn’t just a relic of the past; it’s thriving, especially in early music ensembles. These groups strive for historical authenticity, and meantone tuning is crucial for recreating the Renaissance and Baroque soundscapes. I attended a concert by an early music group using meantone tuning on their harpsichords and organs. The experience was transformative—the music felt warmer, more colorful, and emotionally resonant, as if the instruments were speaking the language of the past.
Beyond historical performances, meantone is finding its place in contemporary compositions. In a world where composers constantly seek new ways to push musical boundaries, meantone offers a unique sound palette. Its distinct tonal qualities can add an unexpected twist to modern music, blending old-world charm with new-world creativity. A composer friend once experimented with meantone tuning in a modern piano piece, resulting in a hauntingly beautiful quality, with chords shimmering and shifting in ways equal temperament couldn’t achieve.
These modern applications highlight the versatility of meantone temperament, proving it remains a valuable tool for musicians today. Whether you’re an early music enthusiast or a modern composer, exploring meantone can enrich your musical journey. For those looking to expand their understanding of chords and scales in various tunings, the Piano Companion app is a powerful resource for songwriters, producers, teachers, and students. It helps you find chords and scales by key or MIDI input, and even lets you create custom ones for your compositions.
Key Takeaways
- Meantone temperament emerged during the Renaissance to address tuning challenges, offering sweeter harmony in many keys.
- Common misconceptions include confusing it with equal temperament and underestimating its versatility.
- Today, meantone is celebrated in historical performances and contemporary compositions for its unique tonal character.
Embrace the rich tapestry of musical tuning, and let meantone’s distinctive sound inspire new dimensions in your music-making adventures!