Temperaments addendum

[David Ilvedson]

As an aspiring jazz pianist, I did not like the Valotti, or possibly it was a Young...been a while, for jazz.   A lot key changes in jazz and I found going, for instance, from a slow beating third sound to an extremely fast beating third sound with a 1/2 step move not to my liking.   As Ed says below it is all subjective.   You have to try it out and make your own determination.

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: A440A at aol.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 9/18/2006 3:04:42 AM
Subject: Re: Temperaments addendum


>Julia writes:

><< TO add another aspect of the temperaments question: Converesely, if 
>I play jazz, say Herbie Nichols,  in the same temperament that Beethoven 
>played on will it sound wierd? << 

>       A lot of what we hear is the result of the pianist, regardless of 
>temperament.  A highly tempered interval can be used harshly or expressively, 
>depending on how the pianist plays it.  I have several jazz musicians that prefer 
>a Victorian era tuning like the Broadwood's, and one that love a Young.  They 
>have learned how to use the harmonic "palette" to their desired ends.  
> 
>>>Does modern music sound worse in an old temperament? Wouldn't the playing 
>in 
>different keys sound "wrong" or uneven? or would it be incosequential?>>

>    In the main, it appears to be inconsequential.  The more pertinent 
>question I would ask is, "Does a mild well-temperament do more damage to modern 
>music than ET does to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, etal?"   In side by 
>side comparisons I have been involved with or observed, the ET tuning is 
>rarely favored.  I just don't think our organic nature so easily embraces the 
>mathematical result. Once again, this is a subjective thing, so there is no right 
>or wrong "taste" involved.  I rarely have anyone want to go back to ET after 
>becoming familiar with the alternative.  (But I bet I have lost a customer or 
>two, but don't we all?)
>Regards, 
> 
>Ed Foote RPT 
>http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
>www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
>