Songwriters, Temperaments (*was: neurology)

[A440A@AOL.COM]

Greetings,  (hell yea, this has to do with temperament).   
Susan writes: 
>>Now, pianos which are off-pitch WITH THEMSELVES do cause harm, because 
musical interval sizes are learned<snip> It's important to set up that pitch 
template right in the early years.<< 

    I had interesting mornings yesterday and today.  Yesterday I tuned one of 
my lease pianos (1892 Steinway upright, restored) to a very well known 
pop/folk artist here in Gnashville.  She has sold millions of records over 
the last 30 years and I have always known that she had particularly keen 
ears.  She is also not shy about the quality of the tunings and likes this 
particular piano because she grew up with one much like it. 
   After I finished, I mentioned a well-tempered sound might be useful and 
invited her over to listen to one.  She said, "Ok, let's go", so we came back 
and she sat down at a 1950 M in a Broadwood's "Best". This tuning has some 
thirds that are 18 cents wide,  11 cents, G-B and F-A are 8 cents, and the 
C-E is 7.  This is not a drastic temperament but certainly offers a palette 
of harmonic values.  She was initially taken aback by the key of E(18cents), 
but began pushing around, getting sorta jazzy.  It was enough, she told me 
she would like  to retune the piano at her house,(and yes, she said she would 
be  glad to pay for it again).  
    So,  this morning I went back and retuned.  She sat down and played for 
approx. 30 seconds, stopped, and with tears in her eyes, said, "this sounds 
like my mom's piano did".  She moved to the key of C and said that it was the 
first time in years that she had liked the sound of C.  She then went to Eb, 
thought it sounded great, tried out the Ab, said "wow, that is pretty intense 
but I kinda like it,  in fact, I love the way this thing sounds.   
    The early years might have been well tempered for a lot of people out 
there but we will never know unless we try the alternatives.  
Regards, 
Ed Foote