It's with great delight that finally I've been able to finish restringing the Pleyel Chromatic harp, tuning it in different ways for experiment and conducting measurements.
Whilst I know what I've heard whilst tuning pianos, it's difficult to describe in terms of that expression that writing about music is like dancing about architecture.
Because of the acoustic simplicity of the Pleyel chromatic harp
The musical scale, resonance and the Pleyel Chromatic Harp
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The musical scale, resonance and the Pleyel Chromatic Harp |
An introduction to looking at the Pleyel Chromatic Harp and experiments in resonance. You can hear the same piece played on a Chromatic harp https://www.yout... |
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compared to the piano with only one string to each note instead of three, it's been easier to tune quickly for experiment as well as reducing the variables so as to narrow down parameters specifically to the consequences of tuning schemes.
I tuned it
1. to exact equal temperament using an ETD
2. to the bells or tone bars installed in the head of all the the 1890s instruments by Pleyel for tuning
3. to unequal temperament using my "high definition" technique or twist to the temperament which I've found has an effect on resonance.
The results are startling, visually demonstrable with acoustic analysis with software from Tolvan Data
Tolvan |
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Tolvan Data |
Tolvan Data was my company specialized in computer software for measurement and simulation of acoustic systems. Even though the company is resting, the web page is still available for free download of the softwares that I wrote and still write. Svante Granqvist On the menu to the left you will find the softwares for download. |
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(very many thanks indeed to this software provider), sheds revelatory light on Debussy and Ravel who wrote for the instrument and the sort of tuning they would be familiar with, and demonstrates how the Pleyel tuning and moreso the sort of unequal temperament and its implementation that I've been advocating which I call "High Definition", improves the sound of the chromatic harp and the sound of the piano also.
It also demonstrates visibly why tuning was key to Chopin and Beethoven's use of the piano sustain pedal.
If the PTG would like me to write this up in the Journal I'll be happy to do so.
The consequences relate not only to HIP and how the whole piano repertoire should be performed and re-recorded, but how tuning can improve the sound of the instrument.
Happy Easter!
Best wishes
David P
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David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
+44 1342 850594
"High Definition" Tuning
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