Temperament, A pianist responds

[A440A@AOL.COM]

Greetings, 
David writes:
<< But many fine pianists don't

prefer it and find the larger range and tonal palette of a modern piano

offering a greater means of expression without compromising the intentions

of the composer. << 

   This statement makes it appear that David knows what the intentions of the 
composers are, and he even goes so far as to state that using an age 
appropriate tuning represents a tuners impostition of his own tastes,(more so 
than using ET).  
    To follow this logic to its absurd end, using a modern piano, in modern 
ET, represents the least intrusion on the composers intentions.  That is a 
premise that makes no sense to me whatsoever.  It sounds more like poorly 
supported justification for remaining in the status quo. 

>>Are Schnabel and Brendel only making due with compromises?

Are they all sadly misguided?.>>

     Yes, and Yes. That is the whole point of this discussion.  Modern ears 
have been inured by science.  Last month's masterclass experience with a very 
widely respected teacher from a major music school proves it, at least to me. 
 This professor/concert artist didn't even realize that the D he used to 
demonstrate Beethoven passages had been tuned in a Young temperament.  Even 
side by side with the other piano in ET, he didn't notice the difference in 
sound!!  Just how closely was he listening to what was coming out of the 
piano?   
     There is more to this music than can be had from a modern piano in ET. 
Since there is a dramatic shortage of fortepianos, the next best step in 
fully illuminating composer's "intentions" is to at least get the intonation 
closer to the original.  Hence, the temperament revival.  (and there are a 
LOT more tuners involved in this move than ever before, thanks to the SAT, 
RCT, VT- etc).  
Regards, 
Ed Foote RPT

Regards, 
Ed Foote RPT