George Gershwin's Music

[Jay Mercier]

Hey all,

Just played Gershwin's Preludes the other day - after tuning my own piano 
with EBVT - these pieces have "life."

My question is this:  How many tuners on this list actually play piano at a 
proficient level (definition: Bach Prelude & Fugues, Beethoven Sonatas, 
Chopin, Liszt, Brahms to start)  If you do, have you actually taken time to 
play different repetoire, from Bach to Cage on a Well-tempered piano?

I have found the only thing I haven't liked as much (not by much) on a 
Well-tempered tuning are some quartal voicings for jazz piano.  Maybe I'll 
find more in the future.  Otherwise, the Baroque, Classical and Romantic 
repetoire I like to play now has soul. Even 20th century's Keith Jarrett's 
Koln Concert is sounding better.  I thank Bill for enhancing the music in my 
home and for my customers in the future.

Just my opinion,

Jay Mercier
Glenwood, MN




>From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: Re: George Gershwin's Music
>Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 22:47:59 EDT
>
>In a message dated 6/24/00 9:27:23 PM Central Daylight Time,
>JTTUNER@webtv.net (james turner) writes:
>
><< You mentioned something about George Gershwin's music and a default
>  tuning.  Would you explain further?  Besides being a tuner, I also play
>  the piano and the music of George Gershwin is my favorite.  What type of
>  temperment would sound best with his music. >>
>
>Ed said that Gershwin was part of the Equal Temperament (ET) era and so his
>music sounds best in ET.  Although his music sometimes has complex 
>harmonies
>and chromatic modulations which many people think can only work in ET, it 
>is
>not really true.  Gershwin's music has lot's of blues and ragtime 
>influences
>from America's Black culture.
>
>
>These forms are really best heard in a mild Well-Temperament such as a
>Victorian or a very mild Meantone such as a 1/7 or 1/8 Comma Meantone.  
>When
>using these kinds of temperaments and playing Gershwin's music in the key 
>it
>was written, you hear the small minor 2nds and 3rds which are often called
>the "Blue Note" of Jazz or Blues music.  ET negates these qualities and
>creates smooth modulations where none are called for.  Does this music 
>belong
>in an elevator or on the telephone while you've been put on hold or does it
>belong in an atmosphere where there is liveliness and excitement?
>
>I don't think you'll find any compelling argument as to why Gershwin must 
>be
>played in ET, only some of the absolute nonsense that you have seen about 
>why
>Bach, Mozart or Beethoven must be in ET.  These people simply can't enjoy
>anything beyond the only sound that they have ever known and the concept 
>that
>the scale must be divided equally or else it is not rational.
>
>Bill Bremmer RPT
>Madison, Wisconsin

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