| Abstract |
This book traces the history of musical temperament (the system musicians use to tune their scales) through the ages. The author reveals how the division of the octave into twelve equal half steps--what we know as equal temperament--came to hold a virtual monopoly as the only tuning system most of us have ever known. However, as he notes, equal temperament was not always the only system around, nor even the preferred one. Many of the classical masters--among them Bach, Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven--wrote their music with alternative systems in mind, creating a radically different sound more rich and sonorous than what we most often hear today. This book offers a compelling argument for today's musicians to reevaluate the way they tune, play, and sing. It also provides nonmusicians with a look into the way music works, what makes it sound the way it does, and what more they might hope to experience as listeners. A historical narrative, a lesson in simple physics, and, above all, an impassioned letter to musicians and listeners everywhere, this book challenges us to reconsider how we hear and perform our music. |
