Purpose:Compare and contrast several historically important musical scale temperaments.
Description:This is a recording of audio examples. Intervals illustrating properties and problems are given for the following temperaments: (1) Pythagorean, (2) Just, (3) Mean Tone, (4) Werckmeister, and (5) Equal Temperament. To illustrate the sounds of some temperaments in different keys, a short segment of a four-voice Bach chorale is played on an electronic organ, first in the key of C, then in the key of C#, in the following temperaments: (1) Just, (2) Mean Tone, (3) Werckmeister, (4) Equal Temperament. Detailed description of the various demonstrations is included.