 A 1914 Orthotonophonium in theMuseum of Musical Instruments of Leipzig University | |
| Classification | Aerophone |
|---|---|
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 412.132 |
| Inventor(s) | Arthur von Oettingen |
| Developed | 1914 |
| Related instruments | |
| Harmonium,Reed organ | |
TheOrthotonophonium is afree reed aerophone similar to aHarmonium with 72 (sometimes 53) keys per octave, that can be played alldiatonickeyintervals andchords usingjust intonation. The instrument was created in 1914 byGerman physicistArthur von Oettingen to advance his theories ofharmonic dualism (now knows as Riemannian theory).
The word'Orthotonophonium' is aportmanteau of theGreek words ορθός =correct, τόνος =tone and φωνή =sound.
The concept of true intonationkeyboards traces back to the 16th Century, with the work of ItalianmusicologistsGioseffo Zarlino andNicola Vicentino. Zarlino tried to reproducemeantone temperament in all keys on a single instrument, without having to retune it. To this end, Zarlino created an instrument called theArchicembalo, which used19 tone equal temperament. The instrument used twomanuals and thirty sixkeys per octave.
Around 1850, American inventorHenry Ward Poole created anenharmonic organ, which did not requirefinger substitution upon note changes.[1] In 1863,Perronet Thompson built an organ with 65 keys per octave, which could be played with pure intonation in 21major and minor keys.[2] The German physicistHermann von Helmholtz also experimented on this theme during this period, using his own instrument - the Reinharmonium.[3]
German physicistArthur von Oettingen became interested in microtonal tuning in the 1870s, later developing the idea for aharmonium using 72 or 53 keys, with which almost any chord usingthirds,fourths, andfifths. The first Orthotonophonium was built in 1914 by German instrument manufacturer Schiedmayer.[4][5]
When playing inequal temperament,beats are unavoidable due to thePythagorean comma. Thisinterference can be avoided playing on an Orthotonophonium, since thepitch of atone can be chosen such that onlypure intervals are played. This is achieved by using a different tuning system -72TET. Unlike a piano, where there are only twelve keys per octave, on an Orthotonophonium, the player has the choice of several pitches per tone. This eliminatesenharmonics, since for example, a G♯ can be altered severalcents higher than an A♭.
