The Art and Science of Tuning

Explore the rich history of musicians’ engagement with pitch, in this free Gresham College lecture.

From the tuning systems of Babylon, Pythagoras and Hindustani ragas, through the temperaments of the Baroque and Classical eras, and arriving at contemporary electronic, blues, jazz and global practices, this lecture explores how musicians have organised, sliced and manipulated the pitch continuum for expressive effect. In so doing, we reveal the mechanics that determine the 12 notes of the piano keyboard and the beautiful spectrum of pitch colours between them.

Watch online or attend in person.