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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The claim of the
Well-temperament supporters is that the variety of tempering in a =
well-tuned
well-temperament is more musically effective than a well-tuned =
equal-temperament
(which is a special class of well-temperament).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The tests of equal =
temperament
-evenly rising beat rates of chromatically rising same class intervals- =
are more
mathematical than musical. Music seldom uses the harmonic motion =
of
chromatically ascending same class intervals.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The most common =
harmonic
progression in music is the V-I root progression. More than =
anything, this
is what establishes the key center and any particular quality associated =
with
it. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The simplest test of =
a
well-temperament is to play the chord progressions =
F-G-C(second
inversion) and then F# -G# -C#(second inversion) in the temperament =
range.
These two progressions will reveal the extremes of any well-designed
well-temperament in parallel contrasts that are very =
exposed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Still better is to =
play around
the circle of fifths in the temperament, and still better is to tune the =
mid-range and play around the circle of fifths. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> A person who is =
emotionally
responsive to well-temperament will experience a very satisfying rise =
and
release of tension in playing around the circle of fifths from C to C =
this
way. A person who has a negative response will be disturbed, and a =
person
who doesn't care won't care. So perhaps we are testing both the person =
and the
temperament!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> My own response to =
this is
perhaps mediocre (in the middle!). I know that there are people =
who hear
and experience more clear responses to temperament than I hear and
experience when listening to music. I am accustomed to =
playing in
temperaments from Vallotti to Victorian. When I play a piano in =
Equal
Temperament, I have a gradual feeling that something is lacking, though =
I seldom
notice right away unless I test for temperament. I wish there =
were
some way to instantly change the temperament to see if my feeling would
change. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> In any case, =
scientific tests of
well-temperaments seem moot to me, since the musical test is
subjective. ETD's give us the ability to tune many varieties =
repeatedly,
and to get right down to the subjectivity that it's all
about.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> On the occasions =
when I tune a
Well-temperament by ear, I don't concern myself with its official
name. When I'm satisfied with the circle of fifths test, =
relative to
the music that will be played, I'm done. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Ed
Sutton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>