George Gershwin's Music

[Kent Swafford]

on 6/27/00 12:50 PM, Conrad Hoffsommer at hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu wrote:

> David,
> 
>> Although I will grant to you that most music from the common practice can
>> sound fine performed on instruments tuned in HTs, John Cage's composition 4'
>> 33" must be performed in equal temperament. Historical temperaments do not
>> lend themselves to the subtle nuances of modulation this piece demands. This
>> is a 20th century piece it should only be performed in a 20th century
>> temperament!
> 
> 
> Au contraire, my friend.  I have been preparing that piece and
> experimenting with different temperaments.  For a while I
> thought that Jorgensen's "Five and Seven" was the only one
> which could do it justice... BUT ... I now find that the Pythagorean
> with it's pure fifths is the best to evoke the tranquility  which is
> the emotion best expressed by the composition.  Perfect fifths for
> the piano and the pianist give the music a certain je ne sais quoi.

I have developed a custom temperament just for this Cage piece. Tuning a
piano in my 4' 33" temperament takes just under 5 minutes, for which I
charge, of course, my full concert tuning fee.  :)

Kent Swafford