Temperaments

[Billbrpt@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-01-30 15:50:34 EST, you write:

<< What were these temperaments the composers had in mind? If they did
 compose for them or in them, why aren't they ever mentioned.  If
 temperaments did make such a difference to the music, why didn't
 composers specify which temperaments? >>

They were all cycle of 5ths based temperaments.  They may have each had slight
variations but they all had the same basic characteristics and followed
certain rules.
 
 	<<Consider Bach and his Well Tempered Clavier. (WTC). If it
 was so important for it to be well tempered why did he not include
 tuning instructions, or at least refer to the tuning system he
 composed and played WTC in?  .>>

   A Well-Temperament can cover a great range.  It isn't just one tuning and
one tuning only.  ET, definition is.  ET was most definitely not what Bach
used.

<< 	This brings us to the sentiment of wanting to hear the music as the
 composer heard it, on the instrument of his period, and if keyboard,
 the tuning used. 
 We really don't know what the composers used.  According to Owens and
 Kellner, there appear to have been numerous  tuning systems in the
 Classical era.   What we don't know is who preferred what, or who
 wrote what pieces for which temperament.  Maybe  Bach meant by "Well
 Tempered" ... "not hap-hazard".  >>

    So then if we don't know what they did,  we do something we know they
didn't do?
Why must ET be the answer to all that is unknown?  For my complete answer to
the questions you raise here, see my latest post under "Temperament Debate".

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin