Klarinet Archive - Posting 000501.txt from 2000/08

From: David Renaud <studiorenaud@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tuning: let's get it sorted out
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 21:50:04 -0400

Tony Pay wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 18:49:20 -0400, bhausmann1@-----.com said:
>
> >...but I still think stretch tuning is defeatable on some models.
>
> Think about what you're saying. Defeating stretch tuning would either
> make *octaves* out of tune, or...
>
> > ....would alter the sound DRASTICALLY!
>
> ...wouldn't it?
>
> Tony
>

Yes it would.

Interestingly, I have a Rolland U220 whose best,
most realistic, purest, piano samples, have some
slightly bad unisons, & the temperament is not quite
perfect. Perhaps an attempt to woe the public into
believing this is a great realistic piano sound. Stretch
is incorporated into it's tuning. Since they are sampling
and digitally recording real piano tones that have sharp
harmonic content, it is part of the inherent piano sound,
digitally stored, or real. Octaves must be stretched to
some degree beyond theoretical for them to work.

All piano tuning has some amount of stretch. Some technicians
favor higher a partials then other. So there is an accepted, range
of stretch. Perhaps some keyboards allow a super stretched
tuning vs. normal, but I have never seen it.

Stretch is established right of the level of setting the temperament.
The first temperament octave set to pure 4:2 coincidental partials
produces
less stretch then setting in pure at the 6:3 coincidental partial level.
More stretch will give more pure double octaves, at the expense of
single
octaves, less stretch gives more pure single octaves at the expense of
double- triple octaves. Also a wider stretch produces fasts thirds
within
the temperament octave, and less octave stretch, slower thirds. So you
can have two perfect equal temperaments produced on the same piano
with that are different by virtue of having to accommodate a slightly
different octave widths.

In concert halls where a very wide range of the
keyboard is used, more projection is wanted in the top end, plus a
better quality large instrument gives tighter cleaner harmonic series,
a technician can takes advantage of the instrument to stretch pure
at higher coincidental partial levels without comprimising single
octaves so much. Some "Steinway" technicians promote tuning pure
5ths(not slightly narrowed as in equal temperment) as they leave the
mid. temperament area all the way up the treble, producing a
"super stretched" tuning. This gives a very pure outer fifth, but lots
of bite to the inner thirds as you go up.

Hope this helps a bit.

David Renaud
RPT
Piano Technicians Guild

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