gleichschwebende temperatur

German writers used the phrase "gleichschwebende Temperatur" to denote equal-beating temperament since the beginning of the 18th century. This is not to be confused with equal-temperament, and instead actually denotes certain meantones, well-temperament, and other tunings where the varying temperings of different intervals results in them having equal numbers of beats per second. However, most German writers have in fact used the term (and its variant spellings "gleich schwebende Temperatur" and "gleich-schwebende Temperatur") to designate regular 12edo, and unless the context specifically indicates that a well-temperament or meantone is under discussion, "gleichschwebende Temperatur" in German treatises generally refers to 12edo.


[from Joe Monzo, JustMusic: A New Harmony. Thanks to Martin Braun and Klaus Schmirler for clarifying the meaning of this term.]

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Updated:

2003.07.24 - page created

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