430 Modes of Tuning Instruments. 



in \o\ From ihe key of C a modnlaliou will naturally 

 be expected into the key of G ; ^vhich modulalion will re- 

 quire the donunant ot'G, viz. the chord of D with a major 

 third, fifth, and seventh. Now the A is half a comma top 

 flat, as A fifth above D, and will beat 73 times in \5^\ And 

 this we may take, as the first instance of '' a very fine va- 

 riety of pcrfcctioD." Surely Mr. Kollniann would have 

 been more consistent in the use of terms, if he had said 

 •* varieties of impv.'.rfcction." Tiie next chord which oc- 

 curs is that of E, the fifth of which is perfect, but the 

 major third beats 255 in 15'\ The chord of F has already 

 been spoken of; proceed we then to examine the chord of 

 Bb ; the titth is perfect, the major third beats 391>. This 

 ojiord on El> beats 266. 



Now let us com[)are this temperament with that upon 

 organs tuned in the usual manner. 1 do not give the beats 

 in extreme keys, because they are too rapid to be heard as 

 t'catings, except in the lowest part of the scale, and have a 

 rough effect, which is more tolerable than beatings not loa 

 rapd to be perceived as beatings. One chord, viz. that 

 of Ab or G* has a peculiar character, (it is called the wolf) 

 the fifth being almost the fifth part of a minor tone too 

 sharpy and the beatings are distinctly heard in the middle 

 and lower part of the scale. 



Chords on ihe Organ, as tuned in the usual Manner^ 



C, G, D, A, and E, good. 



B, F#^ C* aLid G*. The major thirds almost one fourth 



of a minor tone too sharp, and 



Ab (or G«) has also a fifth ahiiost 



F, Bb and Eb, good, one-lifth of a minor tor.e Joo 



siiarp, as before observed. 

 When we hear an o?gan tuned in this manner, we may 

 consider our'relves at a feast^ i\\ which there are dishes of 

 various qualities j while in M. Kirnberger's feast of ffa;ry7//»v7^, 

 viands, but eight dishes are very palatable, and those who 

 are fond oi^ sour crout and oliveSy and, like many of our 

 best ( omposcrs, have no objection to a slice of wolf, though 

 ihey would not choose to dine entirely upon that outlandish 

 aninjal, have an opportunity of gtatifying their peculiar 

 palates. Until, therefore, some irrefragable arguments are 

 produced, to prove the superiority ol M. Kirnberger's tem- 

 perament to that in common use, 1 presume our organ- 

 builders and organ-tuners will, in spite of any charges of 

 obstinacy, ignorance, or policity, continiit: to tune as tlieir 

 ancestors did before them : as I cannot flatter myself ih^ 



