31 Aug
12 tone equal temperament
by Jeff Hero, Runnemede, NJ
The development of the 12 tone equal temperament method of tuning instruments, circa 1580-1900, put Western civilization on it’s present musical course. It now becomes ingrained in everyones listening asthetic from the moment they are born. If music of a different part of the world sounds out of tune to you, this is why. Our ears are “tuned” to this system, and will find other systems generally unpleasing, or “wrong.”
This is a huge subject. Read more here.
Also, look for the book “How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (and Why you Should Care)” by Ross W. Duffin.