Question regarding Well Temp. Tuning

[A440A@AOL.COM]

Greetings, 
     In response to some more light-weight prosyletizing, Ric asks: 

<< I wonder what it is that makes the "equally tempered musician" turn away
from ET?. >>

   A technician with an agenda,(at least, that is what started things around 
here).

>>You say instead of ET they prefer a "well tempered tuning" temp.
How do they know which one? >>

    To begin with, they don't,  which allows the temperament savvy tech to 
offer more than tuning, but also guidance in a matter that few pianists know 
anything about, but a majority (in my case), come to appreciate as a critical 
dimension in their music. Since virtually all well temperaments are the same, 
differing only in degree of contrast,  it is up to the technician to 
determine how great a change will be perceived as an improvement. 

>>Hearing just 4 temperaments would be quite a
cost as far as tuning fees go.   What is this "well tempered tuning" that
they prefer?<<

     My favored beginning tuning is one of the Coleman "Victorian" styles.  
It introduces key color without undue harshness.  Successive  tunings can 
strengthen the difference or keep it mild, it becomes a matter of taste on 
the customer's part.

>How did they come to prefer it over all the others?  <<

  The technician bears some responsibility for choices.  All my customers 
find their own level of "color" by hearing increasingly earlier temperaments 
each tuning. Some have decided that Kirnberger's tuning with its pure 
third(s) are the most beautiful, while others stop at later tunings with less 
contrast.

>>Can it be
put into cents for machine tuners, or beat rates for aural tuners?<<

    Very easily.  Aurally, they are easier to tune than ET, electronically, 
it is all very simple to depart from ET by fixed amounts. 

 >>If something other than ET is going to be requested by musicians I hope as 
a
professional tuner  to be able to provide it.   How can I prepare myself in
case such a request is made? >>

   The techs that want to offer their customers a broader perspective must 
prepare themselves by learning what music was likely composed during the 
various temperament eras that occurred during our instruments development,  
the differences between tunings, and the characteristics of well tempered 
philosophy. It is NOT an either/or choice with ET,(as far as I see it),  but 
rather,  the addition of more tools to the technician's arsenal.  
Regards, 
Ed Foote