In article , Iain M Churches
wrote:

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...


Listening to single instruments, or to ones where the players may
adapt their pitch whilst playing may not show up low-order distortion
as clearly as other combinations of instruments.

Perhaps my meaning was unclear. I followed the first violin within the
quartet. I was unable to listen to single instruments. All players,
with the exception of pianists, and players of some percussion
instruments have the ability adapt their pitch, so I am not clear what
you mean by your statement. Are you referring to intonation?

I'm not sure what would be the correct term.

My point is that if the players/instruments play chords, etc, keeping
strictly to the pre-agreed tuning system, then the results in terms of
anharmonic components generated by distortion will depend on the tuning
system that have adopted. So equal tempering will give different results to
other systems. Depending on such details, and the music, anharmonics
generated may be more or less noticable and more or less acceptable.
Question of what the ear finds 'consonant' or 'harsh' as well as the actual
levels of distortion-created components.

However if they adapt whilst playing to keep the relative pitches in simple
integer ratios, then the above effect will be reduced.

Thus the results would depend a lot on the actual performance you were
listening to. Some might show up distortions more clearly than others.

Slainte,

Jim

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