Well Temperament - Forms

Forms

The term "well temperament" usually means some sort of irregular temperament in which the tempered fifths are of different sizes but no key has very impure intervals. Historical irregular temperaments usually have the narrowest fifths between the diatonic notes ("naturals") producing purer thirds, and wider fifths among the chromatic notes ("sharps and flats"). Each key then has a slightly different intonation, hence different keys have distinct characters. Such "key-color" was an essential part of much 18th- and 19th-century music and was described in treatises of the period.

The first circular temperament was described by the organist Arnolt Schlick in the early 16th century, but "well temperaments" did not become widely used until the baroque period. They persisted through the classical period, and even survived into the late 19th century in some areas.

There are many well temperament schemes, some nearer meantone temperament, others nearer equal temperament. Although such tunings have no wolf fifth, keys with many sharps or flats still do not sound very well in tune (due to their thirds), and can only be used fleetingly. Some theorists have sought to define "well temperament" more narrowly to exclude fifths wider than pure, which rules out many such schemes.

Some well-known well temperaments go by the following names:

• Werckmeister temperament (invented by Andreas Werckmeister)
• French Temperament Ordinaire
• Neidhardt
• Kirnberger
• Vallotti (invented by Francesco Antonio Vallotti)
• Young

The contemporary composer Douglas Leedy has written several works for harpsichord or organ in which the use of a well temperament is required.