Non-ETs

[Phillip Ford]

> > --- big snip ---
> >
> > Engineers (who are not always the most artistic lot) tend to
> > think that if a temperament can be constructed with a rational
> > number it must be right.  However, if one wants to hear what
> > Mozart was hearing you can't use ET.  Of course hearing what
> > Mozart heard might not be important to you, but if it is................
> >
>
>
>...then one must play it only on the same instruments (or their exact
>replicas) Mozart played on. Anything else would just not be the same.
>
>Del

And one should probably play said instrument in a rather smallish hall or 
room having lots of wood and plaster.  Also, one might be advised to play 
by candlelight and wear a frock coat and a powdered wig.

There are reasons for non-ET temperaments.  But to say that you're going to 
put an historical temperament on a Steinway D that's going to be played in 
Carnegie Hall so that you can experience what Mozart did is a bit like 
saying that you're going to put sails on the Queen Mary so that you can 
experience what Columbus did when he crossed the Atlantic.

Phil Ford