Temperaments Of The Cantorum Vi Plus - Viscount Cantorum VI Plus Mode D'emploi

User Manual

7.4 TEMPERAMENTS OF THE CANTORUM VI PLUS

In addition to equal temperament, with the Cantorum
VI Plus you can play other temperaments described
below.
MEANTONE
This tuning is the prototype of all temperaments based
on fifths reduced by ¼ of syntonic comma.
This generates eight pure major thirds: Eb, Bb, F, C, G,
D, A, E. However, the other thirds are unsuable (B, F#,
G#). The fifths are defined as meantone fifths: shorter
than pure fifths but still sounding well. Only one, G#,
fills all the gap created by 11 others and becomes a wolf
fifth. Tonalities with little alterations sound very
pleasant. Well characterised chromatic scale. Move the
wolf on C# to use the G# key as Ab.
WERCKMEISTER III
Based on four fifths, each reduced by ¼ Pythagorean
comma – the others are pure. Creates three Pythagorean
major thirds on: C#, F#, G#. As the number of
alteration in the piece performed increases, so does the
harmonic tension.
KIRNBERGER II
Based on two fifths, reduced by half syntonic comma,
and one fifth reduced by a skisma. There are three pure
majors: C, G, D. Therefore, the major triads on C and
G are pure. Same goes with the minor triads, on E and
B. The four major thirds on C#, G#, Eb, Bb are
Pythagorean. The coexistence of pure and tempered
chords gives a peculiar character to this tuning.
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