veltempererte

Vel-tempered refers to a type of musical tuning system. It is a compromise between pure intonation and equal temperament. In a vel-tempered system, some intervals are tuned more purely than in equal temperament, while others are slightly out of tune. The goal is to make a variety of keys playable with acceptable consonance.

The term "vel-tempered" is often associated with Johann Georg Neidhardt, who published a system in the early 18th century that he called "well-tempered" (wohl-temperiert). This system aimed to allow music to be played in all keys without the harsh dissonances that plagued older meantone temperaments. However, the specific details of Neidhardt's tuning and its precise relationship to what is now broadly understood as vel-temperament can be debated.

Historically, the development of temperaments was driven by the desire to expand the harmonic possibilities of keyboard instruments. Before the widespread adoption of equal temperament, tuning systems often favored certain keys at the expense of others. Vel-temperament, as a broader category, represents a step towards a more flexible and universally usable tuning. It is distinct from equal temperament, where all semitones are exactly the same size, and from just intonation, which uses simple integer ratios for intervals. Vel-temperament seeks a balance, offering a pleasing sound across a wider range of keys than earlier systems.