messin' with the classics

Hey-
Regarding the recent discussion of the propriety of retuning the
classics, I say have at 'em. Even in the west, we have a long tradition of
interpretation in instrumentation, tempo, rhythm, and form. If the ability
to easily change tuning during the performance of a piece had been
available before now, I am sure it would have been used with the same
gusto. I was moved to toss in my $.02 upon hearing the latest Kenneth
Jonsson interpretations of Bach (see http://www.kenneth.nu/ for the nu or
http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-33696/bachacro2.htm for the old). This is not a
retuning of Bach but a retooling, dealing drastically with the rhythm,
and spraying blue notes and quirky inflections. This is radical
interpretation but to me it is a vital, virile Bach, and I feel we are
richer for it. BTW, I have added links to Kenneth Jonsson at the
bottom of my page under "Other Cool Music".

John Starrett
http://www-math.cudenver.edu/~jstarret/microtone.html