In a message dated 9/2/99 8:11:15 PM Pacific Daylight Time, you write: << Werckmeister III, also known as the Correct Temperament No. 1, the four tempered fifths, c-g, g-d, d-a, b-f#, are each 1/4 comma narrow (Klop calls these "meantone fifths"). The remaining fifths are just. >> Many people unaccustomed to the HT's wonder what kind of effect a temperament would have. The name doesn't really give a clue. Therefore, they all seem strange and without the knowledge to chose one purposefully, the usual thought is that ET is always the best, it will work. The description above says a lot if you know what to look for. A Well-tempered tuning has two sides, a Meantone side and a Pythagorean side. The Meantone side is among the white keys. The simple keys will be exactly the same as they are in 1/4 Comma Meantone. You will have pure 3rds. But a Meantone temperament has a string of 11 tempered 5ths, here there are only 4. So, part of the scale sounds exactly like 1/4 meantone with very pure sounding harmony. The remaining 5ths are tuned pure. This gives some of the keys, the ones with a moderately beating 3rd a clean, sweet sound. The remaining portion, the same amount as the two others, will have a pure 5th but a very rapidly beating 3rd. This is what can sound out of tune to the contemporary ear but it can also be an easily acquired taste. Often, ironically, this very sound is what listeners find to be the most titillating. This temperament would be a most excellent choice for a program of J.S. Bach. Although you could use it to play quite a variety of other styles, it would not be a temperament recommended as a substitute for ET. Sincerely, Bill Bremmer RPT
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