Important treatises, books and articles on musical temperaments
This page lists important treatises, books and articles on musical temperaments. Each entry links to a freely accessible digital copy or information page.
Nicola Vicentino – L'antica musica ridotta alla moderna prattica (1555) IMSLP page – Treatise combining music theory with five books of practice and introducing the archicembalo.
Gioseffo Zarlino – Le istitutioni harmoniche (1558) IMSLP page – Key Renaissance treatise codifying music theory and meantone temperament.
Francisco de Salinas – De musica libri septem (1577) IMSLP page – First systematic explanation of meantone temperament by the Spanish theorist.
Jean Denis – Traité de l'accord de l'épinette (1650) IMSLP page – Practical manual for tuning the spinet, harpsichord and organ.
Marin Mersenne – Harmonie universelle (1636–1637) IMSLP page – Encyclopedic work covering music theory, acoustics and instrument construction.
Athanasius Kircher – Musurgia universalis (1650) IMSLP page – Latin treatise on music theory and organology with sections on tuning systems.
Andreas Werckmeister – Musicalische Temperatur (1686/1691) IMSLP page – Short treatise describing circulating temperaments and procedures for tempering fifths.
Jean‑Philippe Rameau – Traité de l'harmonie réduite à ses principes naturels (1722) IMSLP page – Foundational treatise on tonal harmony discussing temperaments.
Jean‑Philippe Rameau – Code de musique pratique (1760) IMSLP page – Practical manual for teaching music with sections on vocal and keyboard exercises.
Alexander Malcolm – A Treatise of Musick, Speculative, Practical, and Historical (1721) Internet Archive – English treatise covering intervals, scales and tuning systems.
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach – Versuch über die wahre Art das Clavier zu spielen (1753 & 1762) IMSLP page – Two‑part essay on the proper way to play and tune the clavichord and harpsichord.
Johann Kirnberger – Die Kunst des reinen Satzes in der Musik (1774–1779) Internet Archive (Vol. 2) – Two‑volume treatise advocating rational tuning and composition techniques.
John Farey – On the two systems of musical temperament (1808) Philosophical Magazine (PDF) – Article analyzing Stanhope's temperament and proposing equal temperament.
Hermann von Helmholtz – On the Sensations of Tone (1863/1875) Internet Archive – Classic treatise linking acoustics and perception, discussing equal and just intonation.
R. H. M. Bosanquet – An Elementary Treatise on Musical Intervals and Temperament (1876) IMSLP page – Mathematical analysis of scales and generalized keyboard layouts.
J. Murray Barbour – Tuning and Temperament: A Historical Survey (1951) Internet Archive – Comprehensive survey of tuning systems from antiquity to the twentieth century (requires borrow access).