<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2715.400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Juilliard String Quartet has never really been all about "intonation." They have tried things in the past like tuning their open strings to the piano and trying to approximate EQT, but they stopped doing that a long time ago for what ever reason (my assumption is that they quickly realized it sounded too stupid). They have a very thick vibrato, which is nice, but it is also nice to be able to use vibrato to help shape the texture of the phrase (which they generally don't do). The 5-6 times I have performed in a master class with the Juilliard String Quartet (usually only one member stays after their concert ) has not been that inspiring. They are GREAT musicians with unbelievable experiences, but times have changed, and they are all just too old now. In my experience, not once did any of them say anything about intonation (well we did have a cellist that was always out-of-tune, but that is a different story). We mostly worked on balance and some on-stage performances issues. Anyway, what is the deal with all the old/dead performers as examples? Old does not mean better; it doesn't work that way with instruments, and it doesn't work that way with performers.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Come on . . . since most people have a hard time with using terms like "just," I make it easier for everyone by simply saying in-tune. Do string players play in-tune? Honestly, it rarely happens (i.e. almost never), but it is something that we try to do. It seems like people are perceiving the same thing differently, so until we can agree on the terminology, it is kind of a waste of time.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bradley M. Snook</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>P.S. And what would a cellists know about thirds anyways?   :)</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>