historical vs. equal temperament

Billbrpt@aol.com Billbrpt@aol.com
Thu, 2 Jul 1998 10:29:20 EDT


In a message dated 7/1/98 10:46:40 AM Central Daylight Time,
musselj@cadvision.com writes:

<< You forgot composers, Bill. Have you ever heard "All The Things You Are" in
 an HT?  ET freed modern popular composers to write what they want without
 worrying about wolves (except perhaps at the door).
 
 If I write a song in C and modulate to C# what will happen to my chord
 voicing with an HT?  Why would I even bother with an HT?
 
 			John
  >>
Ironically, one of my young customers, a pretty young woman, sat down to play
her piano yesterday after I had tuned it in my usual Equal-Beating Victorian
and out came the silky strains of "Body and Soul", one of the many tunes that
have been deemed "impossible" to play in an HT on this List.  She plays a
grand piano from a local dealer tuned in an HT every night in a local
Restaurant. She typically plays Jazz Standards with complex harmonies and
frequent modulations.  The HT tunings appeal much more to her than the
attempts at ET provided by others in the area.

If you do as you say, John, you will hear a distinct harmony change and a
reason for modulating rather than simply moving up a half step.  Yes, I have
heard "All the Things You Are" in various HT's and it sounds like it should to
me.  It certainly does not require ET to be performed.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin


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