No EBVT at Convention

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

Thanks for your reply, Ed,

It was the 1/7 Comma Meantone in Albuquerque to which you objected.  The EBVT 
was presented in Milwaukee and it was this tuning where Jim Coleman expressed 
interest in how the octaves were tuned.  Virgil Smith liked it too but did 
not like the next two that I did which were increasingly stronger.  The EBVT 
was repeated in Providence where it ended up being compared in the final 
round with Virgil's ET.

This was the event where people were asked which tuning they preferred, thus 
becoming a kind of contest.  Owen Jorgensen subsequently admonished us 
against further such comparisons because the right kinds of conditions for a 
true comparison are difficult to achieve.  There was again a chance to listen 
to two forms of ET tuned by Virgil Smith and the EBVT in Chicago, 1999.

I am glad that you are having success with your programs and the CD.  The 
criticism here in Madison is that the tunings were so mild and rounded off 
that the expressions of tonality were often barely perceived.  One of our 
Chapter members, Tim Farley RPT routinely holds concerts at his dealership 
where the 1/7 Comma Meantone is used exclusively for whatever music is 
played.  Many CDs have been made but they are not being widely marketed.

There has never once been the kind of reaction there was in Albuquerque to 
the way any of his pianos have sounded.  The audience and artists accept the 
tunings the way they are and a great musical experience is had by all.  While 
I enjoy the comments and camaraderie of those who have enjoyed what I have 
done at the Conventions, I don't enjoy at all the small but negative side of 
it.

As evidenced by the writing now and in the past on this List, it will always 
be there.  I have read and heard comments that say your CD sounds out of tune 
and while I have found that hard to believe, they were there.  The <<Ed 
Foote's Hysterical Temperaments>> listing in the early publications of the 
1999 Convention program and the rude rebuttal that I got from the Institute 
director were enough for me to decide to attend last year.  The spurning by 
the manufacturer's rep is enough for me this time.

I'll be tuning and performing at a 3 day concert event where I won't have any 
such concerns.  I doubt that I will attend the next few Conventions either.  
I don't see much change happening in the underground negativity that will be 
there.  There are quite a few other HT practitioners who don't ever expect 
much either.  As far as I am concerned, the good old boys who only want ET 
are like the hooligans hanging around on the street corner who will suddenly 
appear and bop you one without warning or provocation.  I'll stay on the safe 
side of town this year.  I don't want to hear that manufacturer's piano in 
ET.  It does not interest me at all.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin