Tuning

vbl. sb. [f. TUNE v. + -ING¹.] The action of the verb TUNE.

  1.  The action or process of putting an instrument in tune; a system according to which this is done (cf. TEMPERAMENT 10).

1554–5.  Burgh Rec. Edinb. (1871), II. 358. Item, to Sir Johne Fietie,… for tonying of the organis at Sanct Geillis day,… xxiiij^s.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 72. The foolish Musitians … spent so much time in unseasonable tuning.

1655.  in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 5. The polyphon is an instrument of so different a stringing and tuning that [etc.].

1787.  Thompson’s Pat., in 6th Rep. Dep. Kpr. Pub. Rec., II. 176. A perfect and compleat Machine or Instrument … for the more easy and expeditious tuning of Harpsichords, Piano Forts, Spinnets [etc.].

1910.  Tovey, in Encycl. Brit., III. 129/2 (Bach). With the object of stimulating tuning by ‘equal temperament’ instead of sacrificing the euphony of remoter keys to that of the more usual ones.

  b.  fig.: see TUNE v. 2.

1654.  R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 342. The Soule needs not more a well organiz’d Body, to exercise it Functions with spritely Vigor,… than that Soule, and those Organs need the Tuneings of Education.

1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), II. 95. It might be agreeable … to enquire thus into the different tunings of the passions.

1868.  J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 273. Such a ‘tuning’ of pulpits and official houses … has been succeeded … by the influence of the press.

  c.  transf.: see TUNE v. 1 c, d.

1863.  E. FitzGerald, Lett. (1889), I. 290. Yesterday we gave her what they call ‘a tuning’ in a rather heavy swell round Orford Ness.

1891.  Labour Commission Gloss., Tuning, a term used in Yorkshire synonymous with the term ‘tackling’…; it means repairing, &c. a loom when it breaks down and keeping it generally in order.

  2.  The action of uttering musical sounds.

1609.  Douland, Ornith. Microl., B ij b. Musicke … is a knowledge of Tuning, which consists in sound and Song.

1610.  Attersoll, Hist. Balak (N. & Q., 9th Ser. IV. 104/1). Many vse in their teaching … knocking of the Pulpit … fidling with the fingers, tuning with the voice.

1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 158. Sentimental and rapturous tunings that rise up … from eternity to eternity.

  † b.  The setting or determination of pitch in singing; the exercising of the voice in the correct pitch of the notes of the scale. Obs.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., Pref. Any of but meane capacitie, so they can but truely sing their tunings, which we commonly call the sixe notes.

1662.  Playford, Skill Mus., I. xi. (1674), 42. The Tuning of the Voice in all the Notes.

  3.  With up: see TUNE v. 8.

1902.  Westm. Gaz., 24 Oct., 3/1. These chapters, however, form but a preliminary tuning-up,… and the first vigorous note is struck in the fourth chapter, ‘Dissent and Defoe.’ Ibid. (1908), 14 May, 10/1. A new place had been provided for ‘tuning-up’ … a long way from plaintiffs’ houses.

  4.  attrib. and Comb. (all in sense 1): tuning-board, in the organ, a piece of wood screwed to one side of the top of an open wood pipe for tuning it; tuning-cone, a hollow cone of wood or metal used for tuning the metal flue-pipes of an organ; tuning-crook, (a) an implement used in tuning the reed-pipes of an organ; (b) in brass wind-instruments, = CROOK sb. 8 a; tuning-funnel = tuning-cone; tuning-hammer, a tuning-key for a piano, properly one with a double wooden head like that of a hammer, used for driving in the wrest-pins when new strings are fitted in; tuning-hole, in the organ, an opening near the top of a flue-pipe, adjustable by a flap (see TUNER 2 c) so as to alter the pitch; tuning-horn, = tuning-cone; tuning-key, a key (KEY sb.¹ 13 (b)) used for turning the wrest-pins in tuning a stringed instrument, as a piano or harp; tuning-knife, a long piece of steel used in tuning the reed-pipes of an organ (also called reed-knife); tuning-lever, = tuning-key; tuning-peg, -pin, one of the pegs round which the strings of a stringed instrument are passed, and by turning which they are tuned; a wrest-pin; tuning-screw, a screw used in tuning a musical instrument; tuning-slide, a slide in a metal wind-instrument, used to bring it into tune with other instruments in an orchestra; tuning-wire, in the organ, a bent wire in a reed-pipe, used in tuning; tuning-wrench, = tuning-key.

1852.  Seidel, Organ, 149. Open wood pipes have at their aperture a small board, called a *tuning board.

1881.  Broadhouse, Mus. Acoustics, 405. An organ-pipe is … slightly sharpened by pressing out the edges of its open end, as by the *‘tuning cone.’

1852.  Seidel, Organ, 28. The screw-key (now used in tuning the reed-pipes instead of the *tuning-crook) is an invention of our own time. Ibid., 149. With some open pewter pipes the *tuning-funnels cannot be used.

1801.  Busby, Dict. Mus., *Tuning-hammer.

1805.  E. Thunder, Specif. Patent, No. 2811. 2. The top … is flattened to receive the tuning hammer.

1860.  All Year Round, No. 68. 430. The *tuning-key of David’s harp, which was shown at Erfurt.

1889.  A. J. Hipkins, in Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 189/2. The old way of tuning pianos by the Tuning Hammer (or a *Tuning Lever) remains in vogue.

1842.  S. Lover, Handy Andy, xv. Having adjusted the blue ribbon over her shoulder, and twisted the *tuning-pegs, and thrummed upon the wires for some time.

1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Tuning-pin.

1896.  A. J. Hipkins, Pianoforte, 13. The Wrest-plank … is the plank or block in which the wrest or tuning-pins are inserted.

1872.  Ellacombe, Ch. Bells Devon, etc., 208. There was in the *tuning room a peal of eight bells.

1852.  Seidel, Organ, 153. Some organ-builders provide reed-pipes with a *tuning-screw instead of a tuning-crook.

1876–98.  Stainer & Barrett, Dict. Mus. Terms, 345/1. A reed-pipe consists of a boot, block, reed, tongue, wedge, *tuning wire, and tube.