Zarlino’s Harpsichord: A Contribution to the (Pre)History of Equal Temperament

Nejc Sukljan

doi:10.4312/mz.54.1.5-22

Authors

Nejc Sukljan University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/mz.54.1.5-22

Keywords:

Gioseffo Zarlino, music theory, Renaissance, tuning question

Abstract

This paper deals with the tuning question as it is discussed in Gioseffo Zarlino’s principal musical-theoretical treatise, Istitutioni harmoniche (1558). First, Zarlino’s tuning system in vocal music (the syntonic diatonic) is presented; then, its shortcomings are discussed; and finally, its adjustment (temperament) for the use in instrumental music is explained.

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Author Biography

Nejc Sukljan, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts

Nejc SUKLJAN (nejc.sukljan@ff.uni-lj.si) studied Musicology and History at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. As an Erasmus student, he also studied in Regensburg, Germany. He graduated with honours in September 2009, and for his thesis in musicology, Vincenzo Galilei’s Musical-Theoretical and Musical-Aesthetical Thought, he received the faculty’s Prešeren award. His research focuses on early music history and music theory; in April 2017, he completed his PhD studies with the thesis Gioseffo Zarlino’s Istitutioni Harmoniche and Ancient Music Theory. Since February 2010, he has been an assistant for musicology at the Department of Musicology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. From 2008 to 2012, he was the secretary of the Slovenian Musicological Society and was re-elected to this position in March 2017. From 2011 to 2015, he conducted the Wind Orchestra of Koper.