actually, violinists often push the thirds even sharper than the piano, depending on the key, and where the note is leading. In early music "period instrument" groups, efforts are made to play purer thirds, (flat) adjusting to the tuning system used by the continuo instrument. That will also be different if a lute is used for continuo - in which case something nearer to equal temp is the norm, or harpsichord/organ which will be tuned to a "system" like Marpurg, etc., and it really takes some careful listening. Violinists playing with a piano will usually tune their "G" string to the piano (sharp), making a mild wolf between "D" & "G" so they don't sound flat on the "G" string. Instumentalists in general use a sort of "sliding scale", which is why it can be so difficult to get pianos in tune with orchestras. This also has some intruguing implications on the already overdiscussed discussion of perfect pitch. Steve
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