jazz tuning

[david severance]

Bill

I think you are missing the point myself and others have made concerning ET.
Of course, you don't have to have the piano tuned in ET to modulate into
different keys. It's just that if I were to list the elements that I deemed
crucial in communicating with my music, jazz, the tuning temperament
wouldn't make the top twenty. In other words, for me, what the temperament
can add or subtract in comparison to more important elements is
insignificant in the broader framework of what we are trying to do as
musicians. It's a non-issue.  Even though I find ET suits my purposes quit
well I wouldn't refuse to play a piano tuned in an another temperament any
more than I would refuse to play a grand that had a high gloss finish
instead of satin. Just personal opinion, nothing more.  Please don't
misunderstand, people can have informed opinions that differ from yours.
I've read Owen Jorgenson's books.  I've tuned and played HT's off and on for
over 20 years and I still prefer ET but I'm not going to go to the mat with
you or anyone over this issue because, frankly, it's just not that
important.  Hey, I'm too busy trying to transcribe Bill Evans intro into
Waltz For Debbie.

David Severance
Dept. of Music and Theater Arts
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164

At 07:42 PM 4/5/99 EDT, you wrote:
>In a message dated 4/5/99 6:28:34 PM Central Daylight Time, atodd@UH.EDU 
>writes:
>
><< Not just a theory, actually. The Count Basie Orchestra recently played
> here in our Opera Hall and the pianist was just ecstatic over getting to
> play on a piano in such good condition. And it isn't just me, by any means.
> He told the opera house manager that it was unbelievable the condition of
> most of the pianos he had to play on. And THAT'S a pianist with a big name
> group! Just think what the others have to play on. >>
>
>Now, how could all of these poorly kept and tuned pianos all still be in ET 
>as so many seem to just believe (and with the faith you'd expect from a 
>cloistered nun)?  I don't believe it and haven't for over a decade.   If you 
>do believe it, I have a bridge that goes from Brooklyn to Manhatten that I'd 
>like to sell you or trade for a vintage Strobe Tuner.
>
>If we're going to play Jazz, wouldn't it just *have* to be ET?  (So you could 
>modulate and play in *all* the keys?)
>
>Bill Bremmer RPT
>Madison, Wisconsin
>