In a message dated 98-01-30 15:50:34 EST, you write: << What were these temperaments the composers had in mind? If they did compose for them or in them, why aren't they ever mentioned. If temperaments did make such a difference to the music, why didn't composers specify which temperaments? >> They were all cycle of 5ths based temperaments. They may have each had slight variations but they all had the same basic characteristics and followed certain rules. <<Consider Bach and his Well Tempered Clavier. (WTC). If it was so important for it to be well tempered why did he not include tuning instructions, or at least refer to the tuning system he composed and played WTC in? .>> A Well-Temperament can cover a great range. It isn't just one tuning and one tuning only. ET, definition is. ET was most definitely not what Bach used. << This brings us to the sentiment of wanting to hear the music as the composer heard it, on the instrument of his period, and if keyboard, the tuning used. We really don't know what the composers used. According to Owens and Kellner, there appear to have been numerous tuning systems in the Classical era. What we don't know is who preferred what, or who wrote what pieces for which temperament. Maybe Bach meant by "Well Tempered" ... "not hap-hazard". >> So then if we don't know what they did, we do something we know they didn't do? Why must ET be the answer to all that is unknown? For my complete answer to the questions you raise here, see my latest post under "Temperament Debate". Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin
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