Dave writes: <<Inspired by your email, this morning I tuned practice room pianos in Young's #1, Kirnberger III, and Coleman XI. I've done this before, but I hadn't yet this year. I think it is important in an academic setting to expose the students (and faculty) to these alternatives.>> I agree. I do think it helps to put a sign on the door of each room with some very short explanation of what is inside. >>Having said all that, I wish I liked the sound better. Why? >>I know it's unfair, but A-flat in a Werkmeister III doesn't sound "alive" to me, it just sounds "bad." As you grew in your knowledge and use of HTs did you go through this phase?>> I would submit that a temperament by itself doesn't sound "good" or "bad", so listening to the temperaments is simply going to illuminate the difference between what one is used to and something else. I didn't have any feeling one way or another just by listening to the differences in the tunings, but after hearing the music, my appreciation for the added complexity grew. I also grew to appreciate the sound of ET, which had somehow escaped me for 20 years. For the last three years I have been giving temperament presentations to technicians and musical groups,(teachers, students, etc.). These two groups react in very different ways, and I have altered my procedures accordingly. The techs represent a hard sell, the musicians just roll over in epiphanies. From a technical and professional standpoint, the change of temperament is viewed with extreme suspicion. From the musician's, I have found that well-temperaments excite them, stimulates a closer look at the repertoire, and gives me some input into musical expression. This is at the root of my commitment to offering a wide variety of temperament. >>I know it's not politically correct to say it, but I like ET, and the more E the better!!<< I don't think there is anything politically incorrect other than condemnation of others that choose paths unlike our own. I like ET also, just not for EVERYTHING. Thanks for the note. Regards, Ed Foote RPT
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