[CAUT] well tempered / Which Bach ?

[johnsond]

I got to meet Brad Lehman while he was here for a masterclass last 
semester.  It was interesting to me that in person he does not seem so 
unaccepting of temperaments other than his own interpretation as one 
might gather from the articles and reviews.  I very much enjoyed the 
opportunity and we had a nice visit.  The temperament doesn't really get 
me too excited- but that's personal and not so important.  I understand 
he is still very active on the harpsichord list if anyone has direct 
questions. 

I've often wondered about so much discussion over various formulas.  I 
find extremely hard to believe that any of the best 19th century tuners 
used someone else's formula with the kind exact precision we presume 
today.  That is a 20th century development.  With that spirit in mind, I 
find it more enjoyable to play with the subtle details and possibilities 
a particular instrument may offer- unless one is tuning any kind of 
strict meantone (including ET) .
Just the way I do it.  I agree also that we are beginning to see more 
requests for unequal solutions across the board. 
I was even asked once to e-mail a page of SAT numbers to one of my 
tunings on a S&S D to someone across the country for the tuner there to 
apply on the piano before an event.  I guess it worked ok. 


Dennis Johnson
St. Olaf

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