[CAUT] professor tuning variables

[Jeff Tanner]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <A440A at aol.com>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] professor tuning variables

>      Um,  I only got one that I can comfortably do aurally, but what's the
> point?  Historically, technology has virtually always driven the changes 
> in
> intonation. New tech, new musical results.  Why should now be any 
> different?

Ed,
I'm thinking that "the point" goes back to the original question that 
started this discussion a couple of threads ago: "Which HT would be 
historically appropriate...?"

Whether or not each one of us is willing or able to offer one or two or five 
different historical temperaments in addition to each of our own versions of 
quasi-equal temperament is not the issue.  Whether or not someone prefers 
one particular temperament over another as a matter of personal taste is not 
the issue.  The issue is placing the burden of knowledge to link every 
different kind of temperament known to history appropriately to every 
possible musical composition on the piano tuner.

That is the impossibility that leads me to believe we're discussing THE 
Pandora's Box of music.
Jeff Tanner