George Gershwin's Music

[Jay Mercier]

Using John Cage purely as an example of 20th century music AND something 
quite different from music in preceding centuries, AND not knowing the music 
or really knowing what temperament I would use if I were to tune a piano for 
a 4'33" concert, I thank you for your experience on this piece - since I 
don't know anything about it and the day comes, I'll most likely take your 
advice and tune E.T. on this one.  (How's that for a run-on sentence).

Thanks,

Jay Mercier


>From: david severance <severanc@mail.wsu.edu>
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: Re: George Gershwin's Music
>Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 09:30:13 -0700 (PDT)
>
>At 02:59 PM 6/26/00 PDT, you wrote:
> >
> >Hey all,
> >
> >Just played Gershwin's Preludes the other day - after tuning my own piano
> >with EBVT - these pieces have "life."
> >
> >My question is this:  How many tuners on this list actually play piano at 
>a
> >proficient level (definition: Bach Prelude & Fugues, Beethoven Sonatas,
> >Chopin, Liszt, Brahms to start)  If you do, have you actually taken time 
>to
> >play different repetoire, from Bach to Cage on a Well-tempered piano?
>
>Hi Jay
>
>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!
>
>
>David Severance
>Washington State University
>Pullman, WA 99164
>

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