In a message dated 4/6/99 5:47:06 AM Central Daylight Time, o-anders@online.no writes: << Mr. Bill Bremmer It could also work with reverse well. That would make a nice HT in the key of Bb, Ab and Eb (I think). Perfect for Altosaxofon and Bebop and maybe cheaper to? I better stick to ET it will end up in reverse well anyway. Ola Andersson (The Bebop Tuner) Bergen, Norway >> Certainly, many Jazz performances have occurred with a piano tuned in Reverse Well. If you understood the logic of Cycle of 5ths based temperaments, you would understand that the goal is not necessarily to "favor" a key for a particular instrument. In fact, the harshness or brightness of the keys at the bottom of the cycle of 5ths may be what enhances the music you enjoy. I don't see how it would be "cheaper" to tune Reverse Well. Mistakes are generally thought of as wasting or costing money, not saving it. Reverse Well is the wrong way to tune a piano because it causes the tonality or "color" of virtually all music to be misinterpreted. It is an error that most often goes unrecognized by the tuner, the performer and the listener but that does not mean that there has been no adverse effect. There are many other examples of substandard conditions and workmanship that go unrecognized and uncorrected. The point of learning to tune an HT even if you prefer or intend to keep tuning ET is that it will insure that you will recognize and avoid the Reverse Well error. I see in your argument the same resentment I see from many others. Your only understanding and concept is that of an Equally Tempered scale. It seems so logical and normal to you that you automatically reject the notion of anything else. You see no reason to learn or even try to understand anything other than what you have already learned and understood thus far. Yet, you have a theory that if you could alter the scale in a certain way, it might make the music sound better. If you have such a theory, you should be willing to test it to prove whether it is right or wrong yet you are afraid to do so. You therefore cling to the only understanding you have. The idea that perhaps your knowledge and skills are flawed and that you may be making an error that you neither understand nor are aware of is threatening to your peace of mind. The answer is to learn more, not reject ideas that are outside of your experience and understanding. You can easily find any number of people who will take your side. There is, in fact a whole group of them who quit this List and created another one just because they believe that a piano should be tuned in ET and ET only. They also believe that whatever they do is ET, regardless of how many errors or alterations to it they may make. They will claim that I am the only person who ever wrote of the Reverse Well error and therefore, it does not exist. If you want to find a large group of people who will instantly be your friend and who will say that you are right and that I am wrong and belligerent, join the MPT Talklist. (I don't know how to join that List but I'm sure there will be someone who will be happy to tell you). There are others who, as soon as they see my screen name or the subject of HT tuning, delete my posts automatically without reading them. They see the concept of Historical Temperaments as a threat and react with anger and resentment. This, however, does not discourage me. I see it only as foolish behavior, contrary to their own self interest. It is as ridiculous as the behavior of an ostrich, a very large bird who apparently believes it cannot be seen by its pursuer when it hides only its head in the sand. Sincerely, Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin
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