12 WT (Lehmann)

For a general introduction to European historical tunings and these presets, please visit Introduction to European historical tunings and temperaments.

About this tuning

12-tone well temperament Bach-Lehmann 2005. One of several attempts to reconstruct the tuning of J.S. Bach's Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Lehmann offers an interpretation of the visual pattern of loops drawn on the cover of Bach's own copy of the score. The five fifthsPitches a fifth apart have a 2:3 frequency ratio (in just intonation) or a difference of 700 cents (in 12 tone equal temperament).Visit the link to learn more F-C, C-G, G-D, D-A, A-E are each narrowed by 1/6 tertialIn Just/Rational Intonation tunings, ratios are often categorized by the prime numbers that constitute them. The Latin-derived terms "tertial" and "quintal," initiated by composer Catherine Lamb, are used to semantically describe the color and function qualities of the specific primes referenced (3 and 5), as well as the chordal and scale structures these primes generate. Higher primes have traditionally been named in similar manner, i.e. "septimal" (7), "undecimal" (11), "tridecimal" (13), etc.Visit the link to learn more commaA comma is a small difference in pitch between the same interval in different tuning systems.Visit the link to learn more. The three fifths E-B, B-F♯, F♯-C♯ are tuned as 2:3 frequency ratios. The three fifths C♯-G♯, G♯-D♯, D♯-A♯ are each narrowed by 1/12 tertial comma. The final remaining interval, A♯-F, is left 1/12 tertial comma larger than 2:3.

Learning more

• Klaus Lang: Auf Wohlklangswellen durch der Töne Meer‍