A Guide to Musical Temperament

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Part 1 Foreword
Part 2 Preface
Part 3 Part 1 : Main Material
Chapter 4 1. The Basis for Temperament
Chapter 5 2. Selected Temperaments
Chapter 6 3. Musical Aspects
Chapter 7 4. Generating Tuning Instructions
Chapter 8 5. The Tuning Process
Chapter 9 6. Instructions for Setting Selected Temperaments
Chapter 10 7. A Historical Overview
Part 11 Part 2 : Supplementary Material
Chapter 12 8. Starting Notes, Pitch References, and Transposition
Chapter 13 9. Theoretical and Equal-Beating Versions
Chapter 14 10. Near-Equal Temperament
Chapter 15 11. Derivation of the Cent Equation
Chapter 16 12. Temperament Data
Chapter 17 13. Temperament Spreadsheets
Chapter 18 14. Instructions in Musical Notation
Part 19 Glossary
Part 20 Bibliography
Part 21 Index
Part 22 About the Author

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On keyboard instruments, tuning pure fifth intervals causes octaves to be out-of-tune. A temperament is a system of tuning in which the tuning of the fifths is altered to keep the octaves in-tune, and to allow all notes of the musical scale to be usable. A Guide to Musical Temperament is an introduction to the subject of how the twelve notes of the musical scale are tuned on keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord, clavichord, piano, and organ. This book covers all the various aspects of temperament, including a progressive discussion of the theoretical basis for temperament, the musical implications of a temperament's characteristics, and the relationship of the theoretical with the practical. Giving procedures and techniques for tuning keyboard instruments, along with descriptions and step-by-step instructions for setting temperaments, the book also includes supplementary notes such as advanced calculations and references. Author Thomas Donahue assembles new information as well as material from previous sources, giving a comprehensive outline of theories and a historical overview. Taking a complex subject that is often presented in either confusing or ambiguous terms, Donahue presents it in a straightforward manner, filling a neglected niche in music and keyboard reference.

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American Reference Books

an excellent overview to the subject of musical temperament....This is a great book for any keyboard performer to investigate....This useful volume is highly recommended to all musicians and should be included in the music division of colleges and universities libraries

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