hallscale

Hallscale refers to a system of musical tuning or temperament. It is a type of meantone temperament, which aims to create intervals that are more consonant than those found in equal temperament, particularly the major third. In meantone temperaments, the fifths are tuned slightly flatter than a perfect fifth, which allows for purer thirds. The specific tuning of these fifths determines the intervals available and the resulting sound of the scale.

The name "Hallscale" is associated with the composer and theorist Thomas Hall, who described such a tuning system. Hall's work contributed to the understanding and development of temperament systems during a period when composers and musicians were exploring alternatives to Pythagorean tuning. The goal of these explorations was to achieve better harmonic sound, especially for vocal music and instrumental music that relied heavily on thirds and sixths.

Hallscale, like other meantone temperaments, has a characteristic sound profile. While it offers sweet-sounding thirds and a generally consonant harmony within its "good" or "pure" keys, it also creates dissonant intervals in other keys, often referred to as "wolf intervals." This limitation meant that music composed in Hallscale or similar meantone temperaments was often restricted to a specific set of keys to avoid these unpleasant sounds. The development of equal temperament, which allows for playing in all keys without significant distortion, eventually superseded many meantone systems in widespread use.