[Harp-L] re: tuning/temperaments

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Iceman writes:

"I dunno. That "nice bit of propaganda" feels like a weird comment.  
Guess it's just your opinion or something. Perfect Imperfect  
intervals is how this aspect of temperament is considered, labeled  
and discussed when learning the fine art of piano tuning. I didn't  
make up the terminology."


I didn't say you made it up.  That doesn't mean it's not propaganda  
and isn't relatively meaningless.  Yes it is my opinion, I never  
claimed otherwise.

Equal temperaments are uniform, no more no less.  Calling it a  
"perfect imperfect interval" is a nice sales pitch, but that's about  
all.

I prefer to use non-weighted terms whenever possible.  Beatless  
interval instead of "pure" interval, for instance.  This is an  
example of that.  It is all too easy to start to give value judgments  
simply by using loaded terms.  It leads to the assumptions like  
JI=chord playing and ET=melody for the diatonic.  The chords in  
something like 7-limit JI will sound more smooth, but they aren't  
necessarily better than those in 12TET, just a different musical  
choice.  They are no more "pure" or "perfect" than those in 12TET, so  
I think it's best to avoid those types of descriptions.  And  
sometimes playing a melody in 7-limit JI which clashes with the  
backing band might be exactly what the music calls for.



JR Ross