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The evolution of stringed keyboard
instruments into the modern piano
began in the early 18th century and
culminated in the late 19th century.
As the harpsichord, fortepiano and
numerous intermediate piano designs
were inexorably changing form, the
musicians, composers and music
theorists of the time were also
experimenting and utilizing various
tuning systems or temperaments for
the performance of the music. There
were no standard piano tuning
professionals as there are today,
therefore any given tuner tuned
differently from each other as they
themselves tuned differently from
one tuning to the next. This absence
of absolute standardization was not
due to incompetence but rather a
versatility and a musical approach
to tuning that has yielded to the
scientifically ‘modern’ system of
Equal Temperament in practice from
1917. Since famous composers such as
Beethoven, Bach, etc. and others
during the 18th and 19th century did
not mention their tuning practices
and preferences, the job of
documenting tuning methods was left
to musicians, instrument makers,
music theorists, physicists and
mathematicians of the time.
Furthermore, all those who tuned
their instruments were aware of and
instinctively used the numerous
permutations of color changes,
tonality and key characters that
were available through these
temperaments as a means toward
heightened expression in their
musical performances and
compositions.
See a Temperament Recital
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