Abstract

Combining a new software system with the familiar interface of the MIDI keyboard, bitKlavier is a versatile instrument for exploring the nature of tuning and temperament. We describe a number of approaches it facilitates, including composed tunings, moving fundamental systems, and a novel system for adaptive tuning. All of these are characterized by the overarching design priority for bitKlavier to be a context for musical play and exploration, as opposed to finding singular, “correct” solutions to particular tuning “problems,” as has often been the case historically.

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© 2020 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
2020
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Supplementary data

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extended appendix- pdf file
xml files for examples- zip file
xml files for examples- zip file
audio example 12 (figure 18)- mp3 file
audio example 11 (figure 16)- mp3 file
audio example 10 (figure 15)- mp3 file
audio example 8 (figure 8)- mp3 file
audio example 9 (figure 9)- mp3 file
audio example 7 (figure 7)- mp3 file
audio example 6 (figure 5)- mp3 file
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audio example 3 (figure 3)- mp3 file
audio example 4 (figure 4)- mp3 file
audio example 2 (figure 2)- mp3 file
audio example 1 (figure 1)- mp3 file
extended appendix- pdf file